Do you have questions about the County’s Wildfire Mitigation Cost-Share Program? View the frequently asked questions below.
By engaging communities to work together to reduce hazardous fuels on a larger scale the chance for property loss during a wildfire can be significantly reduced. Eligible actions under this funding program will work to increase the safety and effectiveness of first responders and promote community resilience.
Proposed projects must be within Douglas County’s WUI, owned by the applicant, and contain a wildfire hazard as determined by Douglas County wildfire mitigation staff.
Yes. Award amounts are capped at $5,000.00 for individual projects and $25,000.00 for community projects. Please Note – If applicants request funding of $5,000 or above multiple bids must be submitted.
Eligible project types include, but are not limited to:
Upon completion of the project, Douglas County Wildfire Mitigation staff will visit the property to ensure all parameters have been met. After that, the homeowner is responsible for paying the contractor their portion. Once the homeowner supplies the final invoice and proof of payment, Douglas County Finance will release the 50% match to the contractor directly.
Do not pay the contractor in full, Douglas County will make payment to the contractor, not the homeowner.
Defensible space actions must reflect Firewise® principles, CSFS standards, and mitigation best practices.
Yes. Fuel breaks must reflect accepted science-based practices for the State of Colorado including the Colorado State Forest Service Guide to Community Fuel Breaks, USFS General Technical Reports (GTR) for species present, and mitigation best practices.
Community chipping proposals require group participation in close geographic proximity, i.e. on the same street, on adjacent neighborhood streets. Applicants must apply as one entity and list the residents and property addresses that are participating in the chipping program.
The community hires a contractor for chipping or hauling if the community prefers. Material recycling is encouraged and delivered to a facility that will process material. Material may be chipped or tub ground in the neighborhood for future use as long as it is not placed immediately adjacent to a structure.
In-kind contributions will not be considered for match.
The Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) Franktown field office maintains a list of forestry and mitigation contractors and consultants. Arborists and landscape contractors often do this type of work as well. Contractors must have experience with mitigation work.
Applicants must submit a detailed contractor proposal, including a written narrative/scope of work supported with a map graphic. Use of the DC Maps program is encouraged. Applicants are encouraged to obtain multiple bids projects to obtain the most competitive bid. The proposed scope of work and a coordinated site visit with the applicant and contractor must take place before receiving project approval.
Approved projects will receive an award notification and next steps. Once you sign and return the award agreement, you may contact your selected contractor to begin work.
After receiving your award notification and signing the agreement recipients will have until January 15, 2025 to complete their mitigation project. After January 15, 2025, if work has not begun Douglas County reserves the right to cancel the initial funding agreement/(contract) And withdraw the award.
Projects will be selected by Douglas County Wildfire Mitigation staff. Criteria include but are not limited to:
Yes. Douglas County expects you to make a “good-faith” effort to maintain your fuel reduction project. Over time, treated vegetation will regrow and mitigated fire risk will return. By being proactive, project parameters can be easily maintained. The use of common lawn maintenance tools is enough to keep vegetation in check. DCWM may reach out at annual to bi-annual intervals to monitor treatment effectiveness.
Any questions should be directed to wildfirecostshare@douglas.co.us
Click here and scroll to the bottom of the page, and complete the online application.
Please note that incomplete applications will not be accepted or reviewed.
A member of the DC wildfire mitigation staff will contact you via email once all of the applications have been reviewed. It is important that you do not begin work until after you have been contacted and have signed a contract. Any work performed before signing the contract is ineligible for funding, there will be no retroactive payments.
