Summit County Wildfire Council is awarding more than $370,000 to mitigation grants this summer, helping HOAs, towns and forestry pros shore up properties across the county.
This year 22 groups submitted 18 requests to the wildfire council. That’s the most ever for this hazardous fuels and wildfire protection program.
But not every group makes the cut. Groups wanted $102,000 more than the council has in its budget.
Two projects did not qualify for any grant money: The Overlook at Summit Sky Ranch north of Silverthorne, and Summerwood in Dillon. The Overlook wanted cash for plot clearing and a new road. Summerwood wanted it for land surveys.
Two projects are getting almost 44 percent of the total.
First is Beetle Kill Tree Guys, requesting $82,380 for 15 defensible space projects across the county. This work should protect about 40 homes.
Second is the Highlands Golf Course HOA in Breckenridge, requesting $78,500 for trimming on 62 plots with multi-million-dollar homes. Each plot is up to two acres and the HOA is getting a few thousand more than requested.
In 16 years the wildfire council has awarded over $4 million in matching funds to more than 200 projects.