Fire Management

We provide efficient, effective, public safety services to the residents and visitors of Boulder County. We deliver these services with character, competence, and open communication. Fire Management acts as the subject matter experts to the Sheriff for wildfire suppression, prescribed burning, fire restriction implementation, and education.

Fire Management is responsible for suppression of forest and prairie fires on all unincorporated public lands within the 740 square miles of Boulder County. This includes but is not limited to over 100,000 acres of County Open Space and Land Easements, the Arapahoe-Roosevelt National Forest, and a heavily intermixed Wildland Urban Interface (WUI).

The program also closely assists local volunteer and paid fire departments with suppression needs and coordination.

During normal duty hours, Fire Management staffs various fire suppression apparatus to respond to wildland fire threats, with a Fire Duty Officer (FDO) that supplies 24/7 coverage year-round. As the national fire season evolves and with consideration to local staffing levels and fire danger, Fire Management supports our regional and federal partners with suppression efforts around the state and the nation.

In addition to Fire Managements’ two brush-engines, Initial Attack Squad, and the FDO, Boulder County also manages an interagency Type 2 Initial Attack handcrew (T2IA), comprised of firefighters from cooperating fire departments and land management agencies in Boulder County. The purpose of the Boulder County Handcrew is to provide a rapid response of well-trained firefighters to escalating incidents that are normally fulfilled by federal agencies and crews. This program is not only a valuable resource for suppression, but it also provides valuable training and experience to many local firefighters. The handcrew is available to the local, regional, and national levels of fire management.

Boulder County Parks and Open Space (POS) is responsible for managing over 100,000 acres of land in Boulder County. Fire Management works closely with POS to implement agricultural burns, prescribed burns on prairies and forested properties, cutting projects, and pile burning. Projects locations include public-use properties, public easements, and various closed and protected lands.

In addition to the above responsibilities, Fire Management helps residents obtain burn permits for piles and broadcast burns on private property within unincorporated Boulder County. Unlike many counties, Boulder provides these permits at no cost. This is an excellent opportunity for public education, while assisting homeowners and land managers in removing hazardous fuels on their properties. Hundreds of permits are issued to Boulder County citizens annually that account for thousands of tons of fuels reduction, resulting in more fire adapted and resilient communities. View more information on the Burn Permit program.

Educating the public is one of the most effective ways to reduce the chance of wildland fires. As a result, Fire Management participates in outreach events throughout the year. Staff attend fire department open house events and are involved with the Sheriff’s Office Community Academy, fire restrictions, and work alongside the Youth Corps.

For any additional information about Boulder County Fire Management, including questions regarding Fire Restrictions or Open Burning, please email us at bcfiremanagement@bouldercounty.gov or call 303-441-4500.