Louisville wildfire program seeks $100,000 expansion without target neighborhoods or fire-district commitment

Louisville officials are considering a proposed $100,000 contract for Fire Smart Louisville’s 2027 wildfire-mitigation work in three to five high-risk neighborhoods. The funding has not been documented as approved.

The proposal would split the contract evenly between labor and direct mitigation and incentives, at $50,000 each, with Boulder Watershed Collective. The Fire Smart Louisville scope of work does not identify the neighborhoods or provide a map, ranking or other selection criteria. It says the areas would be prioritized with the team working on Louisville’s Wildfire and Conflagration Risk Assessment.

Planned work includes resident education and technical assistance, wildfire audits, cleanup, chipping and dumpster days, rebates, grant-application help, four to six outreach events, and coordination across private property, open space and public lands. City communications support and possible fire-district assistance are also contemplated.

The proposed funding source is savings from about $214,000 budgeted in 2026 for Louisville’s delayed participation in the Boulder Office of Disaster Management, city staff told the council. Staff recommended using existing 2026 funds, refining the scope and returning the contract to the council for consideration. The records do not specify when that would happen; the proposal says funding could begin in fall 2026.

The proposal describes joint city-fire-district funding, but the staff recommendation identifies city savings as the proposed source. No record shows Louisville Fire Protection District appropriating money or formally becoming a co-sponsor. Fire Smart founder Ann Brennan said in an Aug. 4 packet addendum that she asked the district board on Aug. 3 to sponsor the program and provide technical and financial support. The available records show no board action or response, and list county, state and regional grants only as possible future funding sources.

The expansion would build on reported 2026 activity, including a $10,000 National Fire Protection Association grant, more than 20 matching $250 Wildfire Partners rebates and at least 10 neighborhood events. The proposal sets no numerical 2027 performance targets or risk-reduction measurement method. As of Aug. 5, the records show a funding request and proposed process—not final city authorization, a contract award or formal fire-district co-sponsorship. The Aug. 4 council packet contains no vote result or minutes for the item.