Nestled at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Boulder County has long been a region shaped by the natural forces of fire and water. While these forces play a vital ecological role, wildfires' increasing frequency and intensity pose a growing threat to the land and the communities that call it home. The devastating Marshall Fire of 2021 served as a wake-up call, underscoring the urgent need for more effective and proactive wildfire mitigation strategies.

In response, a groundbreaking collaboration emerged, uniting fire experts, conservation groups, and local government agencies to tackle wildfire mitigation head-on. Spearheaded by the Boulder Watershed Collective, Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) Wildland Fire team, and Boulder County Wildfire Partners, this initiative has brought together an extensive network of stakeholders, including Mountain View Fire, Boulder County Fire, the City of Boulder Fire Department, and even the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). Each of these groups plays a critical role in fire prevention, from managing public lands to coordinating emergency response strategies.

At the heart of this initiative is the mobile home community of Sans Souci, one of the region's most vulnerable communities due to its proximity to open space and exposure to potential fire hazards. Unlike traditional suburban neighborhoods, Sans Souci's infrastructure and limited access routes make evacuation planning and fire mitigation uniquely challenging. By leveraging innovative technology, coordinated planning, and hands-on community engagement, this partnership redefines what it means to manage wildfire risk proactively.

The Challenge: High-Risk Communities with Limited Resources

Sans Souci, home to around 100 mobile homes, sits just off Highway 93 near Boulder. The community is surrounded by open space, farmland, and a creek and faces exposure to multiple wildfire risks. The proximity to open fields and unmanaged vegetation mirrors the landscape that fueled the devastating Marshall Fire, reinforcing the urgent need for effective fire mitigation.

Adding to the complexity, the Sans Souci community falls into a bureaucratic gray area, straddling jurisdictional lines between the city and the county. This often leaves residents uncertain about where to turn for support, especially in the wake of rising insurance costs and mounting concerns about fire safety. Many homes lacked defensible space, and overgrown vegetation posed a serious hazard. Language barriers and varying levels of understanding about wildfire risk also made communication and education crucial components of the project.

"The challenge wasn't just the physical landscape," explained Aaron, CEO of Outway. "It was also about coordinating efforts across numerous agencies, engaging with residents, and ensuring every risk factor—from overgrown vegetation to emergency evacuation routes—was properly managed."

He added, "We needed a way to get everyone on the same page, whether it was fire departments, conservation teams, or community members. Without clear communication and centralized data, critical tasks could easily fall through the cracks."

Why Outway? Choosing the Right Solution

When it came to selecting a tool to support the wildfire mitigation efforts, project leaders needed a solution that could handle complex, multi-agency collaboration while remaining intuitive for both fire professionals and community stakeholders. Outway stood out due to its ability to integrate real-time geospatial mapping with task management and reporting, allowing teams to coordinate efforts and document progress seamlessly.

"They needed a tool that was both powerful and easy to use in the field," Aaron explained. "Outway provides the ability to see where risks were, track mitigation work in real-time, and make sure no task fell through the cracks."

Another key factor was Outway's ability to support cross-agency collaboration. With so many organizations involved—each with different systems and workflows—Outway provided a common platform for fire departments, conservation groups, and emergency response teams to work together efficiently.

"Before, teams were juggling spreadsheets and emails to track what had been done," Aaron said. "Now, everything is in one place, accessible to everyone who needs it. That level of visibility has been a game changer."

The Solution: A Data-Driven, Coordinated Approach

Recognizing the need for a centralized system to track fire mitigation efforts, the project leaders turned to Outway—a land management platform designed to streamline operations and improve communication among stakeholders. Outway provided a real-time, map-based solution that allowed teams to take a more strategic approach to fire mitigation.

Comprehensive Risk Assessments

Teams conducted detailed property-level fire risk assessments, identifying vulnerabilities such as fuel piles and potential evacuation hazards. This data-driven approach allowed them to prioritize high-risk areas and develop targeted mitigation strategies.

Multi-Agency Coordination

With numerous stakeholders involved, effective coordination was crucial. Teams worked across multiple agencies to ensure tasks were efficiently managed, avoiding duplication and oversight. This streamlined collaboration allowed for a more efficient and proactive approach to wildfire prevention.

Community Engagement and Education

Beyond coordination, Outway enabled project leaders to engage directly with community members. They documented interactions, addressed concerns, and provided tailored support. The partnership also emphasized community education by holding workshops in both English and Spanish, explaining how residents could reduce fire risk around their homes and prepare for potential evacuations.

Real-Time Tracking and Reporting

The platform played a key role in generating comprehensive reports, which tracked progress and strengthened cases for securing future funding. Additionally, real-time tracking of mitigation efforts allowed teams to clear overgrown brush efficiently, reinforce fire-resistant barriers around homes, and ensure that every aspect of the project was documented and addressed in a timely manner.

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Bridging the Gap Between Residents and Fire Mitigation

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"One of the biggest hurdles in fire mitigation is getting buy-in from the community," Aaron noted. "People need to understand why certain measures—like clearing brush or removing old trees—are necessary. Outway helped us bridge that gap, providing transparency and making it easier to engage with residents."

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For communities looking to enhance their fire mitigation strategies, Boulder's experience demonstrates the power of technology, collaboration, and proactive planning.

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Results: A Safer, More Prepared Community

The impact of Outway's integration into the project was immediate. Teams could now visualize risks in real-time, document mitigation efforts on a property-by-property basis, and ensure that crucial work—such as clearing dead trees that could block evacuation routes—was completed efficiently.

"Instead of relying on spreadsheets and disconnected emails, everything was mapped and recorded in one place," Aaron said. "This meant that when a resident had a question or a team needed to prioritize tasks, the information was readily available."

Fire mitigation work took many forms: clearing thick layers of overgrown vines along fence lines, strategically placing gravel buffers to slow the spread of fire, and engaging local Youth Corps teams to remove hazardous vegetation.

"It's not just about making a dent in the problem for one season," Aaron emphasized. "We're setting up a long-term system, so fire mitigation doesn't just happen in bursts—it becomes an ongoing, sustainable process."

Tracking progress also proved invaluable in securing future fire mitigation funding. By demonstrating the scope of work completed—from fuel reduction to homeowner engagement—project leaders could make a strong case for continued investment in community safety initiatives.

A Model for Future Fire Mitigation Efforts

Boulder's wildfire mitigation efforts now set a precedent for other at-risk communities. With Outway's support, Sans Souci's localized initiative is poised to expand to other high-risk areas.

"This is just the beginning," Aaron said. "Sans Souci was our test case, and now we have a proven model that can be applied across Boulder County and beyond. The more we refine our approach, the better we can protect communities from the growing threat of wildfires."

He continued, "Wildfire mitigation isn't something you can tackle alone. It requires collaboration, real-time data, and a community-wide commitment. What we're seeing in Boulder proves that bringing together the right people and tools can make a real impact."

For communities looking to enhance their fire mitigation strategies, Boulder's experience demonstrates the power of technology, collaboration, and proactive planning.

Would you like to explore how Outway can support your wildfire mitigation efforts?

Contact our team here to learn more.

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