Programs
As we continue to scale up, we are thrilled to be able to offer the following programs throughout Routt County. Each of these offerings have enjoyed a great deal of success and impact in other areas throughout Colorado and beyond. We’ve examined the architecture, then considered our local specific needs and engaged a variety of partners to help bring them to life.
Community Chipping Program
This program is designed and funded specifically to help homeowners reduce hazardous fuels on their properties and help create defensible space around structures. We’ve found that a great many residents are happy to clean up their own yards, but may not have the resources to remove the resulting hazardous debris… compounding the problem. That’s where this program comes in!
Take a look at Colorado State Forest Service’s Home Ignition Zone resources and learn more about how to manage ‘fuels’ on your property. Then, take action and create a wildfire-adapted landscape that offers a greater degree of protection for your home. Once a year, we partner with local chippers to come and either masticate the brush piles you’ve created and, in some cases, we can even haul it away… for free!
Neighborhood Ambassador Program
The best way to affect change in your own neighborhood is to ‘be the change.’ The goal of this program is to develop an Ambassador for each neighborhood throughout Routt County. Ambassadors are typically wildfire-savvy, have a genuine interest in helping their neighbors, are well respected in their communities and have a little free time. We provide Ambassadors with the training, resources and support they need to be as effective as possible.
We’re currently working with Fire-Adapted Colorado (FACO) on program templates that can be easily adjusted and used universally. Our first round of Ambassadors is being gathered and we anticipate our first orientation training to take place late summer / early fall 2023. Do you think you’ve got what it takes? Send an email to Josh Hankes today at josh.hankes@routtwildfire.org and schedule an interview!
Firewise USA®
This is a great starting line for communities who are collectively engaged in wildfire mitigation activities, or who are just coming together. It’s a nationally recognized program developed by the National Fire Protection Association. If you’ve already dug in on the wildfire problem, understood the vulnerabilities and what it takes to minimize them, then thrown your hands up in the air and said, “it’s too much!,” this program can help. Spend some time looking over the requirements and reach out to us if you’d like to learn more… we’re here to help!
