Community & Educational Resources
FOR NEW RESIDENTS
Auxiliary Welcome Letter
This welcome letter includes helpful information about living in our community, including how to volunteer with BMFPD;
accessing property mitigation and tree maintenance services; where to purchase home fire safety equipment; and how to donate to our organization.
Welcome Letter from the Chief
Read BMFPD Chief John Benson's welcome letter to new mountain residents, with helpful tips on living safely and happily in our mountain community.
Be Connected
Connect with BMFPD and your community through neighborhood forums, important fire department links and emergency alerts.
BMFPD Fire Mitigation Services
BMFPD provides free wildfire mitigation and defensible space evaluation for all district residents, and offers affordable mitigation and structure protection services to help protect your home and surrounding property. Click the title above for a brochure, or visit our website.
Informational Websites
Curious about living in the wildland-urban interface? Visit these sites for more information about fire safety and other aspects of mountain living.
BOULDER MOUNTAIN FIRE RESOURCES
Understanding Fire Behavior
On January 20, 2019, BMFPD Fire Chief John Benson gave an informative presentation on fire behavior to district residents before our first quarterly Auxiliary meeting of the year. His talk included information on wildfire trends, components of fire behavior, how BMFPD responds to wildfires, and what residents can do to mitigate fire risks.
Evacuation Information
Important evacuation information for homeowners.
Fire Ban Information
When conditions are dry, fire bans are essential for reducing fire danger. Follow these common sense tips to protect against wildfires.
EXTERNAL RESOURCES
United Policyholder Presentation
United Policyholders, an insurance consumer advocacy group, has been on the ground in Boulder County helping residents affected by the Marshall Fire in December 2021.
At the May 2023 Community Safety Fair, Lisa Hughes, a Marshall Fire homeowner and UP representative brought her presentation, Preparedness Tips From the Trenches, to BMF residents.
Below you’ll find a link to Lisa’s Powerpoint deck (as PDF).
Homeowners’ Insurance and Rehabilitation after a Fire
Garry Sanfacon from the Boulder County Office of Resilience & Recovery gave a Zoom presentation to BMFPD residents on 29 September 2021 about mountain homeowners’ insurance and rehabilitation after a fire. Here is a link to his presentation and the passcode that you will need to access it:
PASSCODE r*Yi0YE3 (note that 0 is zero and not the letter O)
Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network Blog
The Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network (FAC) has a mission to connect and support people and communities who are striving to live more safely with wildfire. The purpose of FAC Net is to exchange information, collaborate to enhance the practice of fire adaptation, and work together and at multiple scales to help communities live safely with fire. This includes embracing resiliency concepts and taking action before, during and after wildfires.
Wildland-Urban Interface - Chief’s Guide
The WUI Chief’s Guide was designed by fire chiefs for fire chiefs to help provide a better understanding of the wildland-urban interface and the necessary information to help prepare, mitigate, respond, and recover from these events. This guide helps individuals understand how a fire chief or other official can help a community effectively manage the emerging risk of fires in the wildland-urban interface. Each section contains information and advice, case studies, and where possible, links to applicable resources.
Watch a Live Burn Training Video
View our residents practicing using fire extinguishers on live burns. Join us each spring for our annual BMFPD Auxiliary Fire Safety Sale to try it yourself!
“Unacceptable Risk” Video
In 2014, The Story Group recorded the experiences of Whittemore and other firefighters who are repeatedly responding to record-breaking wildfires. Human-caused climate changes are transforming Colorado’s fire environment, bringing higher temperatures, drier fuels, and diseases to forests. These climate impacts mix with other human pressures to create a volatile situation for firefighters and communities. If current trends continue, we can expect more frequent, larger and more devastating wild fires in Colorado and across the country.
How to Ensure Your Mountain Home is Properly Insured
View and download this slide presentation by Garry Sanfacon from the Boulder County Office of Resilience & Recovery. On July 22, 2018, Garry spoke to BMFPD residents about how to adequately insure your mountain home in the event of a disaster.
Fire Recovery Lessons Learned
View and download this valuable document on fire recovery lessons learned, including how to ensure your mountain home is properly insured, and documenting and storing your home inventory.
To Confront Wildfire Risk, Experts Get Social
Article in Colorado Arts & Science Magazine about exploring the human role in wildfire mitigation.
CDC Guide to Extreme Heat
Learn all about extreme heat: what it is, symptoms of heat-related illnesses, who's most vulnerable, and how to take care of yourself and others in extreme heat situations.
Disaster Planning for Your Pets
Pets are an important part of our lives. If a fire occurs, you want to know that your furry family members are well taken care of. The Human Society provides valuable information on how to keep your pets safe during a natural disaster such as a wildfire.
Emergency Preparedness for Seniors
The American Red Cross shares the importance of seniors having a personal support network to help them in emergency situations. Read about valuable tips to help yourself or elderly friends and neighbors to stay safe and plan for disaster situations.
Wildfire Preparedness and Self-Storage
Being fully prepared in the event of a wildfire includes planning how to pack and store your most valuable belongings. Visit this link to learn more about wildfire preparedness and self-storage.
Disaster Safety for Renters
Many of our district residents rent their homes. Learn more about how wildfires and other natural disasters can affect renters, and what you can do to keep your family and belongings safe.
Medication Disaster Planning
If you take medication for serious or chronic health issues, it’s critically important to have a plan that includes maintaining access to your prescription drugs. This article outlines how to prepare for an emergency, including a checklist for medications, what should be in your first aid kit, and how to pack a go bag.