Community Wildfire Protection Plan

The Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) is a strategic plan first released in 2007, and recently updated in 2021. The plan addresses the threat of wildfire to the City of Golden based on lessons learned and technology developed since the original plan was released. The CWPP identifies fire risks facing the community, and outlines actions to mitigate those risks and prepare for community evacuation in the event of a wildfire.

The City of Golden, nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains, mesas and grass lands, is a city with the convenience of urban life and almost instant access to wildlands. Firefighters call this “wildland urban interface.” This area of transition presents a unique risk to those who live on the edges of Golden, and a unique challenge for the Golden Fire Department.

The Community Wildfire Protection Plan focuses on three key strategies to keep the City of Golden safe from wildfire:

1. Mitigation: Taking measures to minimize risk of structure ignition through home features, landscaping design, outdoor storage practices and vegetation maintenance on one’s property.
2. Notification: Educating community members to help ensure they are signed up for LookoutAlert Emergency Notifications ensuring that it is activated in a timely manner.
3. Evacuation: Building coordinated neighborhood plans to evacuate community members in an orderly fashion in the event of a wildfire and educating members of the public about those plans.

Implementing the strategies outlined in the Community Wildfire Protection Plan will require coordination among the Golden Fire Department, other key City of Golden departments, Jefferson County, many other stakeholders, and the community at large in Golden. The Golden Fire Department and the City of Golden plan to engage neighbors throughout 2022 and implement the Community Wildfire Protection Plan in an effort to minimize risk and maximize the safety of people and property throughout the city.