Wildfire Adapted Partnership

04/06/2026

Photo Credits****
Platform****

Are you curious about the new Wildfire Resiliency Code? Christi Bode, a filmmaker in Southwest Colorado, put together an awesome video highlighting the importance and significance of the new code, especially during the dry winter we've had. Check it out on our website or with the link below!

https://www.durangolocal.news/ #/?playlistId=0&videoId=2

03/17/2026

March Fire Council is TONIGHT, 3/17/2026

Join Us In Person:
Lighter Room
La Plata County Fairgrounds Extension Building
2500 Main Avenue, Durango

Or Online:
Register to join via Zoom on our website!

Our guest speaker for March will be Rob Farino, Interim Emergency Management Director with La Plata County.

Rob will present on the Wildfire and Watershed Protection Fund (WWPF), evacuation drills planned for May and the Community Wildfire Preparedness Expo, also scheduled for May.

Here’s a little more about Rob Farino:

Rob grew up on the central coast of California and served over 27 years in the fire service working for fire departments in Cambria and San Luis Obipso (SLO). Rob has responded to numerous structure and wildland fires in California. Rob was also a Fire Academy Instructor, and the Training Coordinator for SLO County’s Hazmat Response Team. Most recently, Rob worked for the State of Oregon as a Regional Fire Training Coordinator based in Salem, OR. Rob has a Bachelors’ degree from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in Forestry with concentration in Watershed, Chaparral and Fire Management, and an Associates’ degree from Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria.

Following Rob’s presentation we will hear from Alex and Clare Mullen, Ambassador from Shenandoah Estates, to talk about messaging for May events and general best practices for Ambassadors doing email outreach in this early season.

03/03/2026

Bark Beetles are a hot button topic this season. With a warmer winter, landowners have been able to tackle more fire mitigation in the off season. Notice any signs of disease on your trees? Wondering if you have bark beetle? Check our the Educational Resources tab on our resources page on our website for Bark Beetle Information. Your local CSFS office will also have great resources to stay ahead and aware of the beetles this season.

https://www.wildfireadapted.org/barkbeetleresources

03/03/2026

Happy Monday from Wildfire Adapted Partnership!

Let's talk about embers and low decks. If your deck is 3 ft off the ground or less, it may be difficult to clean debris from beneath. Save yourself time and protect from embers by enclosing your deck in 1/8th inch metal mesh or metal skirting.

Photo Credit: Falls Creek Ranch

02/03/2026

Let's talk about funding! Wildfire Adapted Partnership thrives for funding transparency. As we wrap up the first month of the year, we figured we'd break down our spending and our funding sources from 2025.

Our spending:
5% of what we spend goes toward Admin

29% of what we spend goes toward Education and Outreach Efforts

76% of what we spend gets funneled directly back into our communities through our Mitigation Incentive Programs. These are things like Cost-Share, Chipper Rebates, and Community Projects.

Now for our funding sources:
47% Federal Grants
47% State Grants
4% Local/Private Donations (generous donations from our Counties, as well as private grant funders)
1% Donations8% Fee for Service (Sharing our expertise with other organizations and collaboratives)

When you support Wildfire Adapted Partnership, you can know exactly where our dollars are going. Thanks for trusting us to help support wildfire mitigation and education efforts!!

01/26/2026

We're hiring! WAP is seeking someone that will work fulltime (40hr/wk) out of our Durango based office. The position description has changed slightly, so reach out if this feels like a good fit for you. Interested? Know someone who is interested? Check out our website at https://www.wildfireadapted.org/join-team

12/02/2025

Today is Giving Tuesday which means there is only one week left until Colorado Gives Day!

We are so grateful for your donations thus far. As a super small nonprofit, every dollar makes a difference in helping us do important work in our communities. In 2024, nearly 95% (yep you read that right) of our annual operating budget went back into the community through cost incentive programs, wildfire education events, and outreach work. Your dollars make a direct difference!!!!

Help WAP reach our fundraising goal of $10,000 by December 9th and be a part of Colorado’s largest online fundraising event. Colorado Gives Foundation will match your first donation now through December 9th if you make a monthly reoccurring donation. Thank you so much!

Give where you live today by visiting https://www.coloradogives.org/organization/WildfireAdaptedPartnership

, , ,

11/03/2025

Are you looking for a fulfilling career in a nonprofit? Are you passionate about wildfire mitigation and fire adapted communities? Well great news! WE'RE HIRING! Read more about the position and apply on our website by sending your resume to:

---------------------
Ashley Downing, Executive Director

[email protected]

Subject Line: Finance and Operations Coordinator
----------------------

and reach out to [email protected] with any questions.

08/25/2025

The Word of Thanks Campaign supports non-profits in Colorado that are making a difference in their community!

This week's campaign is in support of the Southwest Conservation Corps, which will deploy a crew this fall to complete 100 feet of a strategic fuel break along the Florida River corridor, a main source of drinking water for the City of Durango. Working adjacent to San Juan National Forest, the crew will remove Gambel oak and thin ponderosa pine, and this buffer zone will help prevent wildfire from spreading into neighborhoods outside of Durango and protect the city's drinking supply. This project is done in conjunction with WAP! Not only does it help complete important mitigation work, it gives valuable experience to young folks across the southwest.

The Colorado Youth Corps Association (CYCA) serves as the fiscal agent for this campaign, passing through 100% of your donation to the field. SCC and RMYC are two of the eight corps accredited by the Colorado Youth Corps Association. Any excess funds will directly support additional wildfire mitigation projects in the next 12 months.

Below is the link to donate, thank you for supporting this important work in our communities!

We need your help to fund wildfire mitigation in at-risk areas of Colorado.

08/11/2025

Thank you to all personnel that have been helping with the most recent in Archuleta County. Below is the most recent evacuation map. Keep up to date on the fire with the Watch Duty App. Below is a PSA from Bill Trimarco of Wildfire Adapted Partnership:

As of Sunday afternoon, August 10, 2025, an out of control wildfire is burning in The Aspen
Springs subdivision in the area north of Buttercup Dr. and Hwy. 160. The fire is moving northeast and is growing rapidly. Mandatory evacuations are in place and pre-evacuation orders extend as far as North Pagosa Blvd.

Sign up for notices at https://local.nixle.com/register/

If you are ordered to evacuate, follow orders and leave quickly.
If you are on pre-evac, or could be, remember the 5 P’s to gather up.
 People
 Pets
 Prescriptions
 Papers
 Personal needs/priceless items

If you have time, the Wildfire Checklist has some highlighted items that don’t take much time to
do and could save your house.

The International Association of Fire Chiefs guide is helpful and can be viewed at
https://www.iafc.org/docs/default-source/pdf/rsg-eag.pdf?sfvrsn=d1316f0c_24

Remember, blowing embers can be a greater threat to your home than nearby vegetation. If you have time during an evacuation, shut the windows and doors on your way out and take any combustibles, like lawn chair cushions and coco floormats, off of the deck and store inside or at
least 5 feet away from the house.

Stay safe!

07/15/2025

Join us tonight from 5_6:30pm for our July Fire Council meeting! Jerry from LPEA and Brent, a WAP ambassador, will join us to discuss a wildfire mitigation project that has been going on in Los Ranchitios. The pair will be discussing LPEA's role in fire mitigation, how the project was created, Brent's role as an ambassador, and the impacts of the project. It's been a busy field season already, and we're excited to highlight a project we've been working on, thanks to our awesome ambassadors and project partners!

Want to join via zoom? Register here: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/rvocS-xiQ0e_ROrqml77TQ&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1753045719434676&usg=AOvVaw2DluCQ8pbP3EUeeb4Qw9Ih

05/28/2025

Join us! Green Drinks is a time to get together, network, gather in community, and hear from local organizations. Folks can have any kind of beverage or no beverage if they like.

Tomorrow night is Green Drinks, hosted from 5-7 at 11th street by yours truly! Come hang out and chat about what our local nonprofits are up to! Hope to see you there:))