Communities that have limited resources and face high risk from wildfire are getting additional support from the USDA’s U.S. Forest Service, according to a Sept. 24 news release from the federal agency.

One of these communities is Grand County. The U.S. Forest Service has granted the nonprofit Grand County Wildfire Council $2,448,000 through the Community Wildfire Defense grant awards. These funds will be used to reduce hazardous fuels such dead trees and vegetation, as part of the West Granby Fuels Corridor project.

The wildfire council received the nearly $2.5 million grant for its 800-acre hazardous fuels reduction effort southwest of Granby. As part of ongoing wildfire mitigation work, teams will create strategic fuel breaks near Granby.

“The Grand County Wildfire Council is very excited to accept this funding to extend previously completed fuel breaks in the Fraser Valley, connect to planned federal projects, and eventually tie into the East Troublesome burn scar,” Council executive director Jessica Rahn stated. “This is an important part of a network of projects that will reduce fire risk and lead to better forest and watershed health for Grand County and for those who rely on the Colorado River watershed. When combined with property owners’ vegetation reduction work, this will create solid community protective measures.”

According to the Forest Service, the West Granby project is part of the Grand County Wildfire Resilience Corridor. In addition to the Colorado River, several key watersheds could benefit from these projects.

The corridor is located near the Windy Gap Reservoir, beside the confluence of the Colorado and Fraser rivers. The Windy Gap Fire burned in August near this project area. Willow Creek Reservoir and Lake Granby are also nearby.

“By reducing hazardous fuels, creating defensible space, and improving firefighter access, the West Granby Fuels Project enhances community resilience, firefighter safety, and the protection of critical infrastructure and water resources,” the Forest Service stated.

Other grant recipients

The Forest Service Community Wildfire Defense grant program will invest $1 billion over five years in the U.S.

For 2025, Colorado will receive $26.3 million in grant awards, funding eight projects, including the council’s. These are:

• Coalition for the Upper South Platte
• Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
• Larimer County Office of Emergency Management
• Roaring Fork Valley Wildfire Collaborative
• The Ember Alliance
• White River Conservation District
• Wildfire Adapted Partnership

In total, more than $200 million is being invested in 58 projects across 22 states and two tribes. The overall goal of the grant program is to plan for and mitigate wildfire risks on lands not managed by federal agencies.

Fire restrictions on all county and federally managed lands in Grand County have been lifted, as of Sept. 24. Fire danger in Grand County is currently rated Moderate.