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Summit County Forest Health and Wildfire Mitigation
For educational presentations on forest health and wildfire preparedness, contact Dan Schroder at (970) 668-4140 or dan.schroder@colostate.edu.
Summit County Fire Restrictions
The Office of Emergency Management provides information on current fire restrictions in Summit County.
Defensible Space
Defensible space is an area around a home or other structure where vegetation has been cleared or reduced to slow the spread of wildfire. Defensible space also creates a safe zone for firefighters to work, and it reduces the chance that a structure fire will move to the surrounding forest or other homes. Learn more about defensible space.
Summit County 2018 Forest Health Highlights
On March 21, 2019, forest entomologist Dr. Dan West gave a presentation on forest disturbance in Summit County. View presentation (pdf).
Colorado State Forest Service has an interactive tool to help you view forest conditions in your area. View the 2018 Forest Health Report Story Map (pdf).
Summit County Wildfire Council
The Summit County Wildfire Council works to mitigate wildfire risk in Summit County, through implementation of the Summit County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (pdf). The council includes representatives from the U.S. Forest Service, Colorado State Forest Service, local fire protection districts, towns, river basins, and Summit County government. Learn more about the Summit County Wildfire Council.
Community Wildfire Protection Grants
The Summit County Wildfire Council provides matching grants to eligible homeowner groups to conduct hazardous fuels reduction and other projects to protect their properties from wildfire. These funds are available through a Summit County mill levy approved by voters in 2008. Learn more about Summit County’s community wildfire mitigation grants.
Chipping Program
Summit County government and Summit County Wildfire Council are helping residents and property owners create defensible space by providing free chipping and disposal of branches, logs and small trees. If you clear woody vegetation from around your home and stack it in a slash pile, we'll chip it and haul it away for free. Learn more about the Summit County Chipping Program.
Related Links and Resources
- Living With the Threat of Wildfire (pdf) - Protect your home and community from wildfire.
- Colorado State Forest Service - 2018 Report on the Health of Colorado's Forests
- Ready, Set, Go! - A wildfire education initiative of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.
- Firewise Communities - A program to encourage homeowner action to prepare for wildfire.
- Fire Adapted Communities - Offers information and specific actions you can take to reduce your wildfire risk, whether you're a resident, business owner or community leader.
- Summit County Office of Emergency Management - Find checklists and other resources that can help you prepare yourself and your family for wildfire.
Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Summit County cooperating. Extension programs available to all without discrimination.