Public Open House for 2024 Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) Update
We Want Your Input
Gilpin County has taken proactive measures to protect its communities and infrastructure from wildfire hazards by contracting SWCA Environmental Consultants to develop an updated Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) for 2024. The CWPP will serve as a guiding document that will assist the County and landowners in making informed decisions with respect to wildfire preparation and management.
On June 8th, 2024, Gilpin County hosted a public open house at the Gilpin Community Center located at 250 Norton Dr, Black Hawk, CO 80422 from 10:00 am to noon for the 2024 Gilpin County CWPP Update. A second open house is scheduled for Thursday, August 8, 2024 at 5:30 pm at the Gilpin County Historic Courthouse in Central City. This will be an opportunity for the community to learn about the CWPP, visit with Gilpin County staff and fire department personnel, and ask questions about the CWPP development process. Information will be on display and light refreshments will be provided; a short presentation will take place shortly after the start of the meeting. If you are unable to attend in person but would still like to learn about the CWPP and provide comments, please use our digital comment form.
Please take a few minutes to complete our Gilpin County Community Survey. The survey data is anonymous. All data collected from this survey will be used to inform the CWPP.
Background
Gilpin County has contracted SWCA Environmental Consultants to develop a county-wide Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). The primary goal of this effort is to develop an actionable plan that individuals and businesses can use to feel empowered in protecting themselves, their loved ones, and their property.
The CWPP makes recommendations for hazardous fuels reduction, public outreach and education, structural ignitability reduction, and fire response capabilities. The recommended projects are intended to greatly reduce wildfire risk to residents and ensure that communities can live safely in areas of increasing wildfire risk, especially in the area located between wildland and human development (wildland-urban interface).
Through this CWPP effort, Gilpin County and partners aim to plan and implement successful wildfire mitigation actions, including hazardous fuel treatment projects on public and private land; organizing public outreach and education; and better preparing communities that are at high to extreme risk of wildfire by utilizing the Fire Adapted Community concepts. Much of this work will be achieved through interagency collaboration, working with communities and across ownership boundaries to develop landscape-level wildfire mitigation solutions. To achieve the goals and objectives of this project, a Core Team has been developed that includes emergency response, land and resource management, and community advocate representatives from across the county.
The Core Team will convene for four meetings during the planning process. The first of these meetings was held on February 8, 2024 to initiate the project and identify roles and objectives. The second was held on May 13, 2024. A priority of the plan development is to involve the citizens of the county to ensure your thoughts and concerns are heard and can be integrated into project prioritization. Two public outreach events will be held and are scheduled for Saturday, June 8 and Thursday, August 8. Additionally, a public survey is available to allow you to provide comments and concerns.
The CWPP will be a guiding document for fire and emergency managers, as well as agencies who manage land within Gilpin County. The CWPP is designed to serve residents, and we encourage your interest and engagement in the process.
Please contact Sheriff Kevin Armstrong, or Rob Fenwick, SWCA project manager if you have any questions.
View Gilpin County Community Wildfire Protection Plan Fact Sheet