Celebrating Collaboration

The Power of the Fire Adapted Colorado Network in Building Wildfire Resilience

As wildfires continue to challenge communities across Colorado, one thing has become increasingly clear: our ability to address these challenges effectively relies on collaboration, innovation, and the sharing of resources and knowledge. In this spirit, we want to take a moment to express our deep gratitude for the Fire Adapted Colorado (FACO) network that has brought together diverse partners working to make Colorado more resilient to wildfires.

We’re often asked “What is the Fire Adapted Colorado Network?”

Fire Adapted Colorado is a collaborative network that connects a broad range of individuals, organizations, agencies, and communities with the resources, tools, and people they need to build resilience to wildfire in their communities. From place-based organizations, such as Wildfire Councils, Fireshed and Watershed Collaboratives, to fire professionals, county and local government, to state and federal agencies, FACO has been instrumental in providing a space for sharing expertise, best practices, and opportunities for on-the-ground impact. The network’s efforts are focused on increasing awareness, enhancing preparedness, and improving long-term resilience for both people and landscapes. It works by fostering communication, coordination, and collective action, ensuring that wildfire resilience is not only a priority but also an achievable goal for Colorado’s communities. FACO also collaborates with many state and federal agency partners, research and science groups and other non-profits, who are valued for working on an aspect of community wildfire adaptation with our state-wide network.

Empowering Wildfire Resilience Leaders

One of the greatest strengths of the Fire Adapted Colorado network is its emphasis on empowering local leaders and wildfire resilience advocates. By connecting people to the right resources and tools, FACO helps ensure that communities are equipped to tackle the unique challenges they face with wildfires, whether it’s through training, technical support, or navigating complex federal and state grant funding, the network plays a crucial role in improving wildfire outcomes across the state. This collaborative approach is essential in addressing the complex and multifaceted nature of wildfire resilience. It recognizes that Colorado wildland fire mitigation professionals must be valued, supported and empowered, with the financial, legislative, educational, and peer-to-peer support they need to make our state the recognized leader in wildland fire risk mitigation and resilience.

Giving Thanks

We’re thankful to every participant in our diverse network. We’re also thankful for our staff and our board of directors, to the CWFC planning team members, speakers, sponsors and conference attendees that made the 2024 Colorado Wildland Fire Conference a huge success. Most recently, we would like to thank United Policy Holders, Amy Bach and Lisa Hughes, for bringing the important topic of insurance availability and affordability issues to our network participants, and to the Colorado State Forest Service, for your collaboration on the recent Round 3 CWDG Webinar and preparing for the CWDG round 3 NOFO release.

November’s headlong rush towards winter, working to hire a Network Fellow, and today’s drop of Round 3 of the Community Wildfire Defense Grant NOFO, are filling our plates as we close out the month, and then the year. Refer to the funding section of this month’s FACO newsletter, for full CWDG details, as you determine if your Colorado community meets the CWDG funding priorities of high wildfire hazard potential, low-income populations, and severe disaster impacts that have increased wildfire risk. If your Colorado community anticipates being highly competitive and plans to pursue this funding opportunity.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!
Becca, Julie, Lara & Cindy

 

 

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