The House passed legislation that aims to expand wildfire prevention efforts through community education.
HB24-1024, Extend Outreach Campaigns Wildfire Risk Mitigation, would require the Colorado state forest service to conduct enhanced wildfire awareness outreach campaigns through 2027. The bill would additionally appropriate $300,000 from the general fund for the state fiscal year of 2024-25 to the forest service; in which they can use for ongoing campaigns and outreach efforts to increase awareness of wildfire risk mitigation in the wildland-urban interface.
The bill passed by a vote of 49-13 and builds on a 2022 law.
“Colorado has experienced devastating wildfires in the last few years that have burned down homes, businesses, and our beautiful outdoors,” said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs.