Douglas County hosts wildfire-mitigation open house ahead of fire season

Douglas County will bring residents face to face with wildfire experts on Saturday, May 9, at the Douglas County Fairgrounds in Castle Rock, where a free, family-friendly open house will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. County officials say the timing matters: a warmer-than-average winter and below-normal moisture are already pushing wildfire risk higher ahead of peak fire season.

The county is hosting the event with Colorado State University and local agencies, and it is built as a practical stop for homeowners who want direct answers. County representatives, local fire districts, wildfire mitigation specialists and insurance professionals will be there to talk through defensible space, home hardening, current building codes, insurance challenges and the equipment used to fight fires in Douglas County. Food trucks will be on site, making it easier for families and neighbors to drop in and get information without signing up for a full seminar.

The push comes as Douglas County says wildfire is its number one natural hazard and safety hazard. Mike Alexander, the county’s emergency management director, has said the warm, dry conditions are a reminder that wildfire preparedness needs to start early. The county says the homes most exposed right now are those in south-metro neighborhoods near open space and in the wildland-urban interface, where development and vegetation meet. Colorado State Forest Service data show just under half of all Coloradans live in that zone and face wildfire risk.

Douglas County is also pointing residents toward help beyond the May 9 event. The county offers free slash-mulch and yard-waste disposal to help cut fuel around homes, along with free wildfire hazard assessments for private property through its wildfire mitigation staff. It also urges residents to sign up for CodeRED emergency notifications and build evacuation plans that account for pets.

Money is available for larger projects. Douglas County’s Wildfire Mitigation Cost-Share program offers a 50% match of homeowner costs up to $25,000, up to $50,000 for community projects and up to $7,000 for community chipping or slash pickup. The county said the program reduced wildfire fuels on more than 146 properties in 2025, after funding 84 projects across 750 acres in 2023.

For residents who want another chance to ask questions, Douglas County will hold a live town hall, Courageous Conversations: Your Home and Wildfire, on Wednesday, May 20, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. That session will be available in person and online.