Following Marshall Fire, Bill to Raise Awareness and Help Coloradans Better Prepare for Wildfires Clears Committee
Legislation to expand wildfire mitigation outreach to more than half of the state’s population passes out of committee
DENVER, CO – Following the devastating Marshall Fire, the Senate Local Government Committee today voted to advance legislation that would expand an outreach campaign to raise awareness and motivate more than half of the state’s population to better prepare for extreme wildfires.
Sponsored by Senator Pete Lee (D-Colorado Springs) and Senator Tammy Story (D-Conifer), SB22-007 would help Coloradans living in fire-prone areas take steps to mitigate the risks of catastrophic wildfires and improve wildfire danger awareness.
“The Marshall Fire highlighted just how dangerous the threat of deadly wildfires has become,” said Senator Lee. “The outreach proposed in this bill will give millions of Coloradans the education and motivation they need to keep themselves and their property safe from future wildfires.”
“Over the past few years wildfire season has evolved into a year-round threat,” said Senator Story. “We must take steps to defend our homes and our communities from these climate-induced mega fires, and this bill will give more Coloradans the tools and knowledge they need to proactively defend themselves, their property, and their communities from future blazes.”
SB22-007 would direct the Colorado State Forest Service to implement a wildfire mitigation public awareness campaign for 2023 and 2024 aimed at folks that live in the Wildland-Urban Interface, areas where structures and developments meet with wildland vegetation.
The bill is one of several recommendations to come out of the interim Wildfire Matters Review Committee. Additional recommendations include legislation to bolster mutual aid systems and fund local governments’ wildfire mitigation, response, and recovery efforts.
SB22-007 will now head to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Track the progress of the bill here.