Boulder to Begin Fuel Reduction Work West of City to Protect Critical Infrastructure

This March, the City of Boulder will begin wildfire fuel reduction work along a two-mile corridor on Tram Hill between Flagstaff Road and Boulder Canyon Drive, a city-owned property west of Boulder. The grant-funded project will conduct tree removal to protect critical drinking water, hydroelectric and electrical infrastructure, increase first responder access in the event of a wildfire, and help reduce wildfire spread and severity.

Wildfire resilience is essential to continue providing safe, clean drinking water to Boulder. Neighbors residing in the area, as well as the general community, are invited to learn more about the project at a public meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 25, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Fire Station 3 & Fire Administration building at 2967 Bluff Street, Boulder, CO 80301. A virtual option will also be available. Registration is requested.

Wildland firefighters overseen by Boulder Fire-Rescue will burn the log piles in the winter months of late 2026, 2027 and 2028 as weather conditions allow. The city will notify community members in the area directly in advance of the work. When the city implements a prescribed burn, firefighters trained in preparing, lighting, and supervising prescribed fires manage a team of certified firefighting staff to oversee the burn. These burns are done with the assistance of City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, local fire protection districts, and the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office.

Work is supported by $900K in funding through the Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Program (COSWAP) to support wildfire risk reduction efforts and protect vital infrastructure. The city is collaborating with the Colorado State Forest Service, Boulder Watershed Collective and Boulder County to plan and implement the project. Learn more about wildfire resilience projects in Boulder at bouldercolorado.gov/WildfireReady.