Wildfire mitigation rebates available for residents

Boulder County residents may earn as much as $500 if they take steps to make their homes hardier against wildfires.

The county is accepting applications for its Wildfire Partner General Rebate Program, which offers rebates to residents who take certain steps to make their homes wildfire resistant.

There are six actions residents can take to be eligible for the rebate:

• Fences are fuses — Replace the 5 feet of fencing attached to one’s home with fire-resistant, noncombustible materials.

• Junk your junipers — Remove juniper shrubs, which are highly flammable, from one’s property.

• The first 5 feet — Replace the first 5 feet around one’s home with noncombustible materials.

• Vents for defense — Install eighth-inch mesh screens to vents, or upgrade to flame-resistant vents, to block embers.

• Cut the clutter — Declutter under one’s deck to reduce the risk of ember ignition.

• Protect home base — Cover the bottom 6 inches of a home siding with noncombustible material.

To qualify, all work performed and materials purchased for the program must have occurred after June 18, 2024, which is when the rebate program began.

Residents who received a rebate in 2024 are eligible for this year’s as well. However, they must apply for a different rebate. For example, some can’t receive a rebate for vents for defense two years in a row.

Weed whacking, tree removal, slash chipping/removal, applying fire retardant stain or paint to fences, planting vegetation, or enclosing spaces underneath decks are not eligible for the 2025 rebate program.

Residents elected to Mountain View Fire Rescue board

The Mountain View Fire Board of Directors will welcome two Erie residents to the board, according to unofficial 2025 election results.

Tiffany Heisler and Mike Mrla were elected to the board. The ballot issue for collective bargaining for firefighters was also passed.

According to Heisler’s biography on the Mountain View Fire website, she will prioritize fiscal responsibility while ensuring the first responders can still do their work. She decided to run for the board after witnessing the response to the Marshall Fire.

Mrla began his fire service career in 2007 with Boulder Rural Fire Rescue, where he is currently captain, according to the Mountain View Fire website. Through that experience, he has gained leadership experience in emergency response, firefighter training and operations.

The election was conducted via mail ballots that were to be turned in by May 6. Heisler and Mrla will fill two of the five seats, with a term of four years. They ran against Cole Lathrop of Longmont and Mark Spangler of Superior.

—Staff reports