Boulder homeowners are lining up to assess and reduce their wildfire risk — so many, in fact, that the city’s free detailed home assessments are now booked out until August.
The surge in demand began after the devastating fires in Los Angeles this spring, prompting more than 100 new requests within two weeks, according to Danielle McNutt, Boulder Fire-Rescue’s community risk reduction senior program manager. The city has since seen steady interest, with 50 requests awaiting scheduling as of mid-May. Officials are encouraging residents to get on the list as soon as the idea crosses their mind.
“It’s a good sign that we are so busy,” McNutt told Boulder Reporting Lab. “I think it’s just the community wanting to take action.”
The assessments are part of Boulder’s broader effort to improve wildfire resilience — particularly for existing homes, which aren’t covered by the new fire-resistant building codes taking effect Aug. 1 for new construction in high-risk areas.
Offered through Boulder Fire-Rescue, the detailed home assessments involve a wildfire mitigation expert walking through a property with the homeowner, documenting wildfire risks and producing a personalized report with recommendations. Staff conduct at least two assessments per day, per person, weather permitting. The service is free for residents within city limits.
The assessments are also a requirement for homeowners applying to the city’s Wildfire Resilience Assistance Program (WRAP), which offers grants of up to $2,000 for home-hardening projects in the wildland-urban interface. While many of the recommendations, like clearing dead leaves or removing flammable fencing, are low-cost, the WRAP grants support larger projects.
Since the program ramped up in November 2023, more than 600 assessments have been completed. “People aren’t just doing it for the funding,” McNutt said. “They’re doing it because they want to protect what matters to them, and I think that’s really inspiring.”
Hardening existing homes is essential, and it works best when neighbors take action together, McNutt said.
“A lot of our recommendations are what we call retrofits. It’s how do I make what I already have safer?” she said.
The assessments are also helping residents prepare for new fire safety rules the city council just passed. Starting Aug. 1, Boulder will expand its designated wildland-urban interface from about 4,600 to more than 16,000 properties. New homes or qualifying remodels in this zone must follow stricter requirements, including a five-foot buffer of non-combustible material around the home, fire-resistant decks and fencing within eight feet and limited landscaping with low-flammability plants. Junipers are banned entirely.
Read: Boulder expands wildfire risk zone to 16,000+ homes. Is yours one of them?
City officials say the rules are designed in part to help prevent flames and embers from jumping house to house. But some councilmembers warn the job won’t be done until similar standards apply to existing homes as well.
While public events like the LA fires and last year’s Canadian wildfire smoke tend to drive up interest, word of mouth also plays a key role, McNutt said.
“When people sign up and say, ‘Hey, my neighbor raved about this program,’ it really shows me that our programs are making an impact, that people trust us. I feel like that’s a big solution to the wildfire problem we have in Boulder.”
In the meantime, residents can take steps while they wait: Check insurance coverage, sign up for emergency alerts, create a preparedness plan and continue to encourage neighbors to participate.
Boulder County’s wildfire mitigation rebate program is also back for 2025, offering residents up to $500 for actions like removing junipers or replacing fencing near homes. The program is open to both homeowners and renters, with applications due by Oct. 10.
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