Colorado § 29-22.5-104 - County wildfire preparedness plan.

§ 29-22.5-104. County wildfire preparedness plan.

(1) The sheriff of each county may develop and update as necessary a wildfire preparedness plan for the unincorporated area of the county in cooperation with any fire district or department with jurisdiction over such unincorporated area. Any such plan shall:

(a) Identify all participants in the plan and their wildland fire roles and responsibilities, including their jurisdictional boundaries, their fiscal and operational authority and responsibilities, a general description of their wildland fire response capabilities, and incident command structure;

(b) Describe available emergency response resources and mutual aid and other agreements related to the plan;

(c) Describe the procedures for cooperation and coordination between or among federal, state, county, and local emergency response authorities; and

(d) Specify reimbursement and billing procedures.

(2) It is recognized that many of the elements described in subsection (1) of this section may already exist in community wildfire protection plans, other county fire plans, county all-hazards preparedness plans, or annual operating plans, and these elements could be integrated, in cooperation among the sheriff, the fire chiefs, and the board of county commissioners of the county, into a county wildland fire plan.

(3) The plan developed pursuant to subsection (1) of this section shall be agreed to by all participants in the plan to the extent practicable.

(4) The authorization to develop a wildfire preparedness plan pursuant to subsection (1) of this section shall not be construed to require the sheriff to provide and maintain the capability for the response. The sheriff may provide and maintain response capability as described in the plan directly or through mutual aid or other agreements.

(5) At the request of the sheriff, the division may assist in the development or updating of the county wildfire preparedness plan pursuant to subsection (1) of this section.

(6) Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the provisions of section 30-15-401.7, C.R.S., or the community wildfire protection plan developed pursuant to such section.

Source: L. 2009: Entire article added, (SB 09-020), ch. 189, p. 827, § 1, effective April 30. L. 2013: (5) amended, (HB 13-1300), ch. 316, p. 1694, § 95, effective August 7. L. 2024: IP(1) amended, (HB 24-1155), ch. 48, p. 171, § 5, effective August 7.