NCA hears from Boulder County Wildfire Partners

The Niwot Community Association (NCA) welcomed Abby Silver, Wildfire Partners Outreach Coordinator, at the March board meeting. Silver was invited by NCA Area Representative and wildfire protection specialist Neal Anderson. Anderson introduced Silver, pointing out that Niwot is the largest community in unincorporated Boulder County.

Wildfire Partners provides Boulder County’s volunteer fire mitigation program, which has been in place for mountain communities for years. It helps homeowners clear fire fuels away from near their homes to lessen the risk of loss from wildfires.

The Marshall Fire made clear the need for the program to extend to communities east of the mountains. The Boulder County ballot measure for a sales tax to support fire mitigation efforts was passed in the 2022 election. The mitigation program was expanded in November 2023.

One hundred plains residents have volunteered so far. The Lake Valley subdivision in the west Niwot area has been the test case for the program’s work organizing groups of homes to face the risk together. Lake Valley’s Community Wildfire Protection Committee member Bill Getsie spoke about their collaboration so far. Around 10% of the homes in the subdivision have been evaluated.

Silver responded to many questions from the NCA Board. NCA Area Representative and Clean-Up Day project manager John Barto described his experience with the Firewise program, which provides official documentation for the homeowner to send to the local fire department and insurance company. Silver responded that Wildlife Partners wants to adopt the Firewise model.

Getsie added that Lake Valley just achieved the Firewise designation. NCA Membership Director Johnny Barrett asked if Boulder County would place restrictions on juniper trees. Silver said it would not, but recognized the risk of junipers close to homes. Silver also talked about how wooden fences could lead fire right to the home and suggested that wooden gates be replaced with noncombustible ones to create a firebreak in the fence.

NCA Director Kathy Koehler brought up the risk of farm fields leading fire to Niwot and asked if farmers would disc and mow their fields to mitigate the risk. Silver reported not being aware of plans to do so, but noted that such work would not be within the scope of Wildfire Partners, which focuses on unincorporated Boulder County residences and the municipalities within Boulder County.

The NCA meeting then moved to regular business. Planning is proceeding for the NCA’s big events of the spring and summer, namely Clean-Up Day, the Slepicka Tractor Show and the 4th of July Celebration. Clean-Up Day will be held on May 18 and will be located as usual in the Niwot High School parking lot. The Tractor Show is scheduled for June 8 and is in need of more volunteers.

Area Representative and subdivision road paving specialist Liz Marr reported on the latest effort to overcome the impasse in getting subdivision roads maintained. Marr is seeking contacts for subdivisions with and without homeowner associations so that they can stay informed and participate.

NCA elections will be held at the annual meeting on April 23. All NCA members are invited to participate.

Board meetings are generally held on the first Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Mountain View Fire Protection District Firehouse #4 (8500 Niwot Road) in Niwot.

NCA members are encouraged to attend monthly board meetings and the public is welcome. If you wish to speak or want a specific issue discussed, please contact the NCA board one week in advance of the meeting to be included on the agenda.