Jefferson County commissioners approve funding to create countywide Wildland Fire Management Program

Jefferson County commissioners voted unanimously to approve a supplemental budget item that funds the creation of a countywide Wildland Fire Management Program within the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

The program is intended to coordinate wildfire preparedness, expand response capacity and centralize wildfire data and community outreach across the county, officials said.

County staff described the program as a three-part effort to (1) increase preparedness through risk mitigation, standardized home assessments and a micro-grant program for homeowner mitigation; (2) expand response capacity by adding qualified wildland incident personnel and equipment; and (3) centralize administrative functions such as data management and regular five‑year reviews of Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs).

Brian Keating, leader of the county Emergency Services section within the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, gave the presentation introducing the proposal and said the program’s goal is to “establish a holistic wildland fire management program for the county” focused on protecting residents and community values. Keating described three main focus areas—preparedness, response and administration—and outlined staffing, equipment and program elements that would support those goals.

Keating said the preparedness work would include a countywide home…