Two Rivers Wildfire Coalition Launches First Fundraising Campaign

Beginning August 23 through September 30, Two Rivers Wildfire Coalition is launching the group’s first public fundraising campaign. With a generous donation from Western Colorado Community Foundation, all donations up to $5,000 will be matched 1:1. Funds from the campaign will allow the Coalition to pursue larger grants for local wildfire fuels reduction projects and supporting Firewise communities.

To this point the Coalition has been working together as a group to leverage resources from their agencies for wildfire mitigation and outreach. “Our next step is to bring in grant monies to support mitigation across land ownership in our high-risk communities. So many of these grants require a match, or they reimburse costs, and we need this seed money to make that happen”, said Pete Firmin, Two Rivers Wildfire Coalition fundraising and grants chair and James M. Robb-Colorado River State Park Manager. Fundraising donations to this campaign are not only doubled by the match from the Community Foundation but will be multiplied again through grants to help our community. Future projects chosen by the Coalition will be in high-risk areas or will support private landowners pursuing Firewise status for their neighborhood.

“Our Community Foundation is pleased to support the necessary work the Two Rivers Wildfire Coalition. The Coalition’s work is urgent as western Colorado grapples with more frequent wildfires,” said Emily Orbanek, programs director for the Western Colorado Community Foundation.

For more information on the fundraising campaign contact the Two Rivers Wildfire Coalition at www.TwoRiversWildifreCoalition.org or find them on Facebook at facebook.com/TwoRiversWildfireCoalition. Donations are tax-deductible and can be made online.

About Two Rivers Wildfire Coalition

Two Rivers Wildfire Coalition is a collaborative non-profit focused on protecting Mesa County communities and natural resources by bolstering wildfire preparedness mitigation, response, and recovery efforts. With over 15 federal, state, local, non-profit, and private agencies working together, the group looks forward to completing more mitigation and education projects in the area in the coming year.

First Mitigation Project Protects Homes, River Habitat, and Firefighters

MESA COUNTY-

With the help of collaborating partner agencies, Two Rivers Wildfire Coalition has recently completed the organization’s first wildfire mitigation project in Mesa County. The project site, located off 28 ¾ Road, focused on creating defensible space between riparian habitat at a Colorado Parks and Wildlife property and approximately 12 nearby dwellings. By removing invasive species in the high risk area the project not only protects people and property but also enhances river habitat and creates zones for firefighter safety and access should a fire occur in that area.

After receiving a donation from Grand Junction Area Realtor’s Association (GJARA), the Wildfire Coalition selected the site because of the high wildfire risk along the river corridor and the impact the site would have in protecting homes. Colorado Parks and Wildlife directed and coordinated work in the area, and Grand Valley Power who serves residents in the defined area, donated in-kind work including trimming, chipping, and removing green waste.

Coalition Co-Chair and CPW Park Manager Pete Firmin said, “This is really a great example of what can happen when our community and our agencies work together to reduce wildfire risk in our County.” GJARA’s coordinator, Lori Carlston-Thompson said, “The Grand Junction Area Realtor Association affiliates were really excited to be able to help with this project! This not only helps to protect our homes and communities, but also the lives of our families and firefighters!”

Two Rivers Wildfire Coalition is a collaborative non-profit focused on protecting Mesa County communities and natural resources by bolstering wildfire preparedness mitigation, response, and recovery efforts. With over 15 federal, state, local, non-profit, and private agencies working together, the group looks forward to completing more mitigation and education projects in the area in the coming year.

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