Strategy Details

Fire Adapted Communities Program

FAC1: Wildfire Risk Reduction for Homes & Property

• Desired Outcomes: Reduce ignition likelihood, increase survivability, reduce structure-to-structure spread, and increase insurability.
• Scope: Includes IR1 (first row), IR2 (second row), and IR3 (interior) homes adjacent to WUI natural areas. ~2,000 parcels in 12 priority sections; ~10,000 across the broader WUI.
• Aspiration: 100% of homes in WUI zones eligible for "Wildfire Prepared Home Essential" designation (an insurance-recognized standard valid for three years).
• Key Targets by 2030:
• Measure 1: 55% of homes in the 12 priority sections receive a Detailed Home Assessment (DHA) to qualify for WRAP grants (~400 DHAs completed annually).
• Measure 2: 20% of homes in the 12 priority sections hardened to eligible standards.
• Strategy: Engages homeowners through communication, risk understanding, and resourcing (grants/staffing). The plan notes that a regulatory trigger may be needed beyond voluntary models to reach 100%.
• Current Annual Cost: $1.0M to $1.5M

FAC2: Wildfire Resilient Building & Landscaping Standards

• Goal: Track wildfire-resilient construction activity in high-risk areas.
• Scope: New construction and significant remodels in IR1/IR2 zones.
• Measure 3: Monitor the number of building permits issued annually that comply with International Wildland Urban Interface Code requirements.
• Compliance is confirmed via a "Letter of Completion" issued by City staff.
• Permit volume fluctuates based on market conditions and weather events prompting repairs.
• Current Annual Cost: $0.5M to $1.0M

FAC3: Community Emergency Preparedness

• Desired Outcomes: Educate residents on evacuation to save lives; strengthen neighbor-to-neighbor networks for vulnerable residents.
• Aspiration: Reach 100% of homes across all 12 WUI priority sections with evacuation programming by 2030.
• Measure 4: 75% of homes in the priority sections receive evacuation programming by 2030.
• Programming includes route planning, grab list creation, and understanding emergency alert levels.
• Strategy: Requires dedicated outreach staff, translated materials, sustained neighborhood presence, and partnerships to reach renters and non-English speakers.
• Current Annual Cost: $0.25M to $0.5M
  

Resilient Landscapes Program

RL1: Wildfire Fuels Management in the WUI

• Goal: Treat vegetation to keep fire manageable and protect the built environment. Work is ongoing after initial treatment for monitoring and reentry.
• Aspiration: 100% of WUI natural areas (regardless of ownership) treated to prescription.
• Measure 5 Target: 100% of city-owned acres in WUI natural areas across all 12 priority sections will be treated by the end of 2030.
• Private Land Strategy: Requires cross-boundary partnerships, landowner agreements, and county/state/federal grants to manage private holdings (~30% of total acreage).
• Current Annual Cost: $1.5M to $2.0M

RL2: Wildfire Fuel Breaks

• Goal: Create landscape-scale fuel breaks west of the 1,500-foot WUI zone to intercept fire from the west before it reaches communities.
• Aspiration: 100% of modeled wildfire approach pathways encounter a treated fuel break.
• Measure 6 Target: 70% of modeled "wildfire approach pathways" from the west will encounter one or more landscape-scale fuel breaks in treated condition by the end of 2030.
• Requirements: Needs land access agreements, sustained funding, and expanded contractor capacity. A network map must be completed to estimate resource requirements.
• Current Annual Cost: $0.5M to $1.0M

RL3: Prescribed Fire Program

• Goal: Reintroduce fire as a natural tool to reduce fuel loads within historic return intervals (5–15 years).
• Aspiration: 100% of lands in range of historic variability.
• Measure 7 Target (Burn Planning): 50% of city-owned land in priority WUI sections covered by a current burn plan by end of 2030.
• Measure 8 Target (Burn Performance): 50% of available "burn days" will be utilized through end of 2030.
• Requirements: State-level regulatory flexibility, expanded crew capacity, interagency associations, and community smoke tolerance engagement.
• Current Annual Cost: $0.25M to $0.5M

Desired Outcomes (Across all programs)

• Lower flame lengths and keep fire on the ground.
• Slow the rate of wildfire spread.
• Reduce burn severity and post-fire erosion impacts.
• Maintain or improve ecosystem health.
• Provide response crews more time and access before fire reaches structures.
  

Safe and Effective Wildfire Response Program

WR1: Effective Wildfire Response

• Measure 9: Prevent wildfires from reaching the built environment by keeping them in the wildland.
• Target: 90% of recorded wildland ignitions on city-managed and adjacent lands will be contained at or under 1 acre through 2030.
• Note: This target applies to typical conditions (not extreme weather). The document notes an aspiration where 99% might be achieved with additional capacity.
• Definition: "Wildland ignition" refers to fires originating in vegetation outside the built environment within or adjacent to Boulder's WUI.
• Current Annual Cost: $1.5M to $2.0M

WR2: Tactical Evacuation

This program distinguishes between planning and performance validation.

• Measure 10 (Evacuation Planning): By the end of 2028, 100% of city evacuation polygons will feature current RSET assessments and complete polygon attribute documentation.
• Timeline: Remaining polygons are scheduled for updated assessments by the end of 2027; mock evacuations in high-risk neighborhoods validate clearance times.
• Measure 11 (Evacuation Performance): The Average Required Safe Evacuation Time (RSET) will be 2.5 hours for the 12 WUI priority sections, maintained through 2030.
• Definition: RSET is calculated using traffic modeling and accounts for detection, alerts, milling time (time to move toward exit), and drive time to safety.
• Current Annual Cost: $0.05M to $0.25M

WR3: Ignition Prevention & Utility Hardening

• Measure 12 (Ignitions): Aiming for a 10% reduction in the five-year rolling average of human-likely wildfire ignitions compared to the 2021–2025 baseline by the end of 2030.
• Baseline: Approximately 43 human-likely ignitions per year (based on city responses).
• Measure 13 (Utility Hardening): Undergrounding 20 miles of overhead utility lines in and around Boulder by the end of 2030, coordinated with Xcel and PUC.
• Goal: Reduce human-caused and electrical utility-caused ignitions to zero eventually.
• Current Annual Cost: $0.5M to $1.0M
  

Responsible Governance Program

RG1: Wildfire Communications & Engagement

Primary Goals & Outcomes

• Community Awareness: Increase understanding of wildfire risk, home hardening, and risk reduction.
• Action Motivation: Help residents feel informed to complete preparedness actions (e.g., defensible space).
• Resource Connection: Link community members with Wildfire Ready resources.
• Trust Building: Establish public trust in the city’s wildfire resilience work.

Measurement & Targets (Measure 14)

• Metric: A multi-question survey instrument tracks self-reported contributions rather than claiming City communications solely caused actions.
• Target: By the end of 2030, 55% of surveyed residents engaged in wildfire preparedness should report that City information made them more likely or better informed to take mitigation/risk-reduction action.
• Focus: There is a specific emphasis on increased participation among residents in priority wildfire-risk areas.
• Current Annual Cost: $0.25M to $0.5M

Methodology & Engagement Channels

• Touchpoints: Interactions include the Wildfire Ready Hub, webpages, newsletters, social media, community events, preparedness walks, home assessments (WRAP), presentations, and direct staff engagement.
• Evaluation Results: Data will be assessed over time and segmented by geography/risk area to identify gaps in reach and effectiveness.
• Aspiration: To ensure residents consistently receive, understand, and use wildfire information, supported by sustained, repeated engagement across multiple channels.