Grand County Wildfire Council (GCWC) has two cost-share programs focused on reducing wildfire risk. The first is focused on the home ignition zone and egress routes of structures, designed to protect life safety. The second is focused on larger strategic and community level fuels reduction projects. Please see details below as well as links to assessment request forms and applications. Please contact us with any questions.

A list of contractors who may be interested in assisting with your project, as well as a link to the Grand County Community Wildfire Protection Plan can be found below.

GCWC offers a Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) Cost-Share Program for wildfire risk reduction. The program is meant to incentivize landowners to complete defensible space projects to make their homes safer, protect egress routes, and reduce risk to structures in the event of a wildfire.

• The HIZ cost-share program is designed for projects focusing on Zone 1 (0-5 feet), Zone 2 (5-30 feet), Zone 3 (30-100 feet), & the egress (20 feet on either side). Please see the image below for a visual example or The Home Ignition Zone guide from CSFS for more information.
• You MUST have a home ignition zone (HIZ) assessment completed by your local fire district or by GCWC prior to any work being completed to be eligible for a reimbursment. You can request a free assessment using the button below.

• Cost-sharing is limited to a one-time reimbursement of 50% of the project cost, $1,500 per acre, or $5,000 total, whichever is least.
• Reimbursment may take up to 60 days, depending on availability of funding 
• Due to limited funding, projects are accepted on a first-come basis beginning in the spring.
• Equipment rented by the property owner and used solely for hazardous fuels treatment within the HIZ may be eligible for reimbursement. All other program parameters apply. Please see application for details.

If you have undergone a HIZ assessment with a GCWC or fire district representative and your project meets the requirments of the HIZ Cost-Share program, please fill out the application below.

GCWC offers the Strategic Fuels Reduction Cost-Share Program to give collective groups of private landowners, large parcel landowners, and others as identified by GCWC the opportunity to apply for cost-share funding. The purpose of this program is to complete impactful and strategic wildfire risk reduction treatments, as identified in the Community Wildfire Protection Plan, at the community or landscape scale.

• This program supports the completion of landscape scale, community level, and large parcel projects with a focus on connecting fuels reduction treatments and fuel break treatments, as well as gaining a foothold in new areas to support future mitigation. The program emphasizes protecting critical infrastructure, access routes, structures, and vital resources within high-risk areas such as those identified in the Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
• Funds are limited and projects are reviewed by the GCWC Board of Directors for alignment with program goals. Applications will be accepted on an on-going basis. Note that due to limited funding and strategic goals, not all projects will be able to be funded.
• A property assessment and an application are required prior to any work being completed in order to be eligible for reimbursement. Other requirements will vary by project and will be outlined by GCWC with applicants.

If you feel your project meets the goals of the program, please contact us below and we will be in touch to discuss your proposal, schedule a site visit, and provide you with an application.

Cost share funds have been generously donated by: Congressionally-delegated funding sponsored by Colorado Senator Bennet, Bureau of Land Management, Colorado State Forest Service, Weathertop Foundation, Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, Middle Park Conservation District, Grand Fire Protection District, Coalitions and Collaboratives Inc. (COCO) through the Action, Implementation and Mitigation (AIM) Program, and Grand Foundation (Grand County Wildfire Emergency Fund).