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Jefferson County outlines expanded wildland fire program, homeowner assessments and pine‑beetle aid
Summary
County officials told a packed Conifer town hall that a new $7 million wildland fire program will fund staffing, mitigation projects and free home assessments; Commissioner Leslie Dahlkemper and the sheriff's wildland fire manager described grants and homeowner incentives to reduce wildfire risk.
Jefferson County officials said the county is ramping up a multi‑pronged wildland fire program meant to increase response capacity, expand mitigation work and boost community outreach.
Commissioner Leslie Dahlkemper told the Conifer Area Council town hall that Jefferson County won a $750,000 state grant to fund fuels‑reduction and forest‑health work at Reynolds Park, a project expected to treat up to 100 acres. "This project will treat up to 100 acres, reducing fuels, improving forest health and helping protect nearby neighborhoods, businesses, and evacuation routes," Dahlkemper said.
The grant is part of broader county investments: Dahlkemper and Brian Keating of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said the county approved $7,000,000 to launch a new wildland fire management program housed in the sheriff’s office. "That investment approved 37 new positions within the sheriff's office for this program," Keating said, adding the county has filled roughly 80% of those roles and will move to seven‑day seasonal coverage with staffed engines and hand crews.
Keating described three emphasis areas for the program: "increased capacity for fire response, proactive mitigation, and community engagement." He said the county has stood up a multi‑partner risk mitigation working group and will coordinate strategic projects across jurisdictions.
County officials also said they are expanding homeowner services. Keating announced the county awarded a contract for the Fireside home‑assessment platform and will fund subscription costs for fire districts so programs are standardized. The county plans to staff a six‑person home‑assessment crew and offer free assessments to homeowners. "Our plan right now is those will be free to homeowners," Keating said.
Local fire districts and Conifer’s wildland captain, John Mandel, said tying home assessments to chipping programs is increasing mitigation work on the landscape. "Chipping is now tied to our home assessment program," Mandel said, noting new assessment capacity should reduce a backlog of residents waiting for service.
Parks and Open Space staff flagged related work: Steve Murdock said Beaver Ranch Park trailhead improvements begin in May and Reynolds Park mitigation is slated to start later this winter pending contracting. Murdock also warned that pine‑beetle‑infested material will be accepted only at the Tin Cup site through June 15 to avoid spreading adult beetles.
County officials emphasized individual action and evacuation readiness. Keating urged residents to complete home hardening, register for the county’s Lookout Alert notification system and, if concerned about imminent danger, "don't wait, evacuate."
Next steps: the county has posted job openings for assessment and outreach leads, will publicize how to request an assessment once the program launches, and will publish mitigation project schedules and slash‑collection dates on Jefferson County Parks and Open Space websites.
