Home Assessments
150+ Goal: 500/yr
A standardized home assessment program promoting defensible space, home hardening, and preparedness practices to help homeowners and communities mitigate hazards.
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Wildland Fire Management Program
Established in 2024, the Wildland Fire Management Program provides leadership, coordination, and implementation support to mitigate wildland fire risk across Jefferson County.
By strengthening collaboration and investing strategically, the program empowers partners, agencies, communities, and stakeholders to build stronger wildfire resilience together.
Response & Mitigation
Wildfire Risk in Jefferson County
Jefferson County ranks second in the state for wildfire risk. Wildfire is a year-round threat driven by vegetation, topography, climate, and population growth.
91% of Jefferson County classified as WUI
47,000+ homes in the Wildland-Urban Interface
4th most populous county in Colorado
Beforemodernfiremanagement,naturalwildfiresburnedregularlyinJeffersonCounty'sfoothillsandplains.Thesefireskeptdeadbrush,grasses,andsmalltreesfrompilingup.
Startingintheearly1900s,agenciesbeganaggressivelyputtingoutallfires.Thatstoppedthenaturalcleanupcycle.
Theresult:decadesofdeadvegetation,denseundergrowth,andinvasiveplantsaccumulatedonthelandscape,makingmodernwildfiresfarmoreintenseanddangerousthanthehistoricalnorm.
Take the First Step
Enhance fire preparedness, fire response, and community engagement. Schedule a free home assessment for your property today.
Request Your Free AssessmentThe evidence is clear
Theevidenceisclear.
Homes with defensible space that survived (based on national research)
Homes without mitigation that survived (based on national research)
5.7× more likely to survive
Where the Risk Lives
Explore historical wildfire perimeters across Jefferson County. Toggle additional layers with the switches to see hazard ratings and fire district boundaries.
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This interactive map displays data layers for Jefferson County, Colorado. Use the layer switches above the map to show or hide layers:
- Historical Wildfire Perimeters — colored by acreage (darker red = larger fires). Includes fire name, year, cause, and acres burned.
- CWPP Hazard Ratings (North Fork area) — colored by NFPA 1144 rating: Extreme (red), High (orange), Moderate (yellow), Low (green). Includes structure count and approximate population.
- Fire District Boundaries — light outlines showing fire protection district coverage areas.
Data sources: Jefferson County GIS Portal, Jeffcom 911, and the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP).
Stronger Together
The Jeffco WFMP believes in strong collaboration and values its partners that contribute to and support the program. No one entity can do it alone — it does really take a village and there is much work to do.
Federal: FEMA, USFS (Arapaho-Roosevelt & Pike-San Isabel), US Fish & Wildlife Service
State: CDFPC, CDOT, Colorado State Forestry, Colorado Parks & Wildlife, DHSEM
Local Fire: Arvada FPD, Conifer FPD, Elk Creek FPD, Evergreen FPD, Foothills FPD, West Metro FPD, and 9 more
Municipal: Cities of Arvada, Golden & Lakewood, Jeffco Open Space, Office of Emergency Management
Utility & Corporate: Denver Water, Xcel Energy, Lockheed Martin, CORE Electric
Collaboratives: The Ember Alliance, Mountain Metro Wildfire Mitigation Council, Upper South Platte Partnership
Our Programs
Comprehensive wildland fire management services for Jefferson County residents.
Fuel Treatments
2,500+ acres mitigated
Implementing county-wide fuel breaks, ecological restoration, defensible space, and home ignition zone practices to reduce wildfire intensity and protect communities and watersheds.
Firewise Communities
12 recognized up from 3 in 2020
Helping homeowners and communities pursue wildfire certifications such as Firewise USA and implement sustainable wildfire risk-reduction actions across the county.
Training & Exercises
97% satisfaction previously none
Training programs and exercises providing staff, partners, and citizens with resources and tools to support risk mitigation, preparedness, and CWPP priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about wildfire mitigation in Jefferson County.
For Residents
Defensible space is the buffer zone between your home and the wildland area. Creating defensible space significantly improves the chance that your home will survive a wildfire, giving firefighters a safer area to work.
Contact our Wildland Fire Mitigation team at (303) 271-8200 to schedule a free assessment. A specialist will evaluate your property and provide personalized recommendations for reducing wildfire risk.
The WUI is the zone where human development meets undeveloped wildland vegetation. Jefferson County has over 47,000 homes in the WUI, making wildfire mitigation critical for community safety.
Yes. Jefferson County offers cost-share programs, grant opportunities, and community chipping days to help offset the cost of wildfire mitigation work on your property.
During a Red Flag Warning, avoid any outdoor burning, keep vehicles off dry grass, have your go-bag ready, and stay informed through Jefferson County emergency alerts.
Defensible space should be maintained annually. Review and update your mitigation work each spring before fire season, and clear dead vegetation throughout the summer.
For Property Owners
Colorado law (SB 21-049) requires property owners in the WUI to create defensible space. Zone 1 extends 15 feet from structures, Zone 2 extends 100 feet, and Zone 3 extends to the property boundary.
Many insurance companies offer discounts for properties with documented defensible space. A completed Firewise assessment can help demonstrate your property's reduced risk profile.
Yes. Many mitigation tasks like clearing brush, trimming branches, and removing dead vegetation can be done by homeowners. Our free assessment will identify specific actions for your property.
Focus on removing dead or dying trees, trees within 10 feet of structures, and dense clusters of smaller trees. Our specialists can mark specific trees during a free assessment.
Firewise USA recognition requires a community wildfire risk assessment, an action plan, documented mitigation activities, and annual investment in wildfire preparedness. Our team guides communities through the process.
Short-term rental properties in the WUI have the same defensible space requirements. Property owners are responsible for maintaining compliance regardless of rental status.
Sign Up for Wildfire Alerts
Get notified about fire restrictions, Red Flag Warnings, and community mitigation events in Jefferson County.
Program Overview
