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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.
2023 Summit County Wildfire Council’s Public Field Trips
***we are saving September for whatever comes up***
“Clearcuts Through the Ages” Come join Summit County wildfire mitigation and forest management agencies to see and discuss clearcut treatments in Barton Creek from thirty, ten, and only one year ago. You will get a picture of how our Lodgepole pine forests respond to these treatments and what is being done to maintain the treatments as the trees grow back.
July 5th, 4pm-6pm. Meet at Barton Road and Airport Road in Breckenridge. We will carpool for a 10 minute drive from there. Wear good walking shoes.
“Subalpine Forest Ecology and the Role of Disturbance” This month Summit County wildfire mitigation and forest management agencies will be going out to the historic Soda Creek Range to get a panoramic view of our Lodgepole forest landscape. We will discuss the historic role that wildfire has played in the local ecology and how our ongoing wildfire mitigation efforts mimic those disturbance processes.
August 2nd, 4pm-6pm. Meet at the gate at the end of Keystone Ranch Road. We will all drive out to the Soda Creek Ranch from there. Wear good walking shoes.
“Living with Wildfire” For the final field trip of the year, Summit County wildfire mitigation and forest management agencies will be revisiting the 2018 Buffalo Fire scar. We will discuss suppression operations when firefighting crews first got on the scene, how fire was influenced by the existing fuel treatment, and restoration efforts following the incident. (Please note: if we have the opportunity to visit a 2023 fire scar, the meeting location may change)
October 4th, 4pm-6pm. Meet at Buffalo Mountain Trailhead on Ryan Gulch Road. Wear good walking shoes.
Summit County Fire Restrictions
The Office of Emergency Management provides information on current fire restrictions in Summit County.
Wildfire Mitigation Efforts StoryMap
We've put together an interactive presentation in "Story Map" format to present information on our mitigation efforts. You can scroll the presentation above or Click here to view it in full in a new browser window.
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 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.
Summit County Forestry Contractors (pdf)
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 - 2022 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.
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Colorado State University does not discriminate on the basis of disability and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations. | Colorado State University no discrimina por motivos de discapacidad y se compromete a proporcionar adaptaciones razonables.
CSU’s Office of Engagement and Extension ensures meaningful access and equal opportunities to participate to individuals whose first language is not English. | Office of Engagement and Extension de CSU garantiza acceso significativo e igualdad de oportunidades para participar a las personas quienes su primer idioma no es el inglés.
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