Leaders from Douglas County fire protection, wildfire mitigation and emergency management professions are preparing for the launch of a process that will produce The Douglas County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) by mid-year 2011. 

“Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) represent the best opportunity we have to address the challenges of the wild land-urban interface in a way that brings about comprehensive and locally supported solutions,” said Kristin Garrison, District Forester for the Franktown District Colorado State Forest Service. 

The Douglas County Office of Emergency Management, Douglas County Wildfire Mitigation staff, Colorado State Forest Service, Douglas County Fire Protection Districts, and the United States Forest Service are facilitating the planning process. The process will enable the participation of individual stakeholders from throughout the County in the development of the CWPP that will serve as the model document to assist communities in development of individual, localized CWPPs. 

Community members will have the opportunity to provide input at different stages of the planning process.  Meetings will be held within each fire protection district in the fall of 2010 to discuss the hazard assessment, community values, and potential fuel treatments.  Stakeholders will also have the opportunity to provide input on the plan through a dedicated Web site, www.douglas.co.us/CWPP and can subscribe to receive e-mail notification when Web site content is updated.  

“This 18-month process will assist local communities as they prioritize protection of life, property, and critical infrastructure in the wild land-urban interface,” said Douglas County Commissioner and Board Chair, Steven A. Boand. “The collaborative process brings together Federal, State, and local interests to discuss their mutual concerns for public safety, community sustainability and natural resources and creation of the broader, comprehensive Douglas County CWPP will assist communities in their development of more localized community wildfire protection plans for implementation at a local level,” he concluded. 

To learn more about the Community Wildfire Planning Process and how to become involved, please visit www.douglas.co.us/CWPP  or call Jill Alexander at 720-733-6924 or Josh Keown at 720-733-6927.