Free Community Event

Gunnison Wildfire Mitigation Workshop

A half-day workshop focused on wildfire risk, mitigation strategies, and community preparedness.

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Saturday, April 25
8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
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Fred Field Center
Gunnison, Colorado
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Check-In & Coffee
8:30 AM
Learn More ↓
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Defensible Space

Learn how to create fire-resistant zones around your property

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Prescribed Burns

Understand field and pile burning practices for land management

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Fuels Management

Chipping, slash disposal, and vegetation management techniques

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Evacuation Planning

Community wildfire protection plans and evacuation readiness

Colorado Rocky Mountains landscape near Gunnison
About the Workshop

Learn How to Help Protect Our Community

Join your neighbors and local experts for a free half-day workshop at the Fred Field Center in Gunnison, Colorado. This event brings together wildfire professionals, land managers, and community members to share practical knowledge about reducing wildfire risk in our area.

Whether you're a homeowner looking to protect your property, a rancher managing your land, or simply a community member who wants to be prepared, this workshop has something for you.

No registration is required — just show up! Check-in and welcome coffee at 8:30 AM, with presentations running from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM.

Hosted by the Gunnison Conservation District and Colorado State University Extension — Gunnison County. Sponsored by the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District.
Event Schedule

Workshop Agenda

8:30 a.m.

Check-In and Welcome Coffee

9:00 a.m.

Opening Remarks & Workshop Overview

Tonya Carr, GCD Representative & Hannah Cranor Kersting, CSU Extension Agent

9:15 a.m.

Keynote: Why Mitigation Matters

Wildfire risk & defensible space

Mike Tarantino

9:45 a.m.

What to Expect: Preparing for Fire on Grazing Allotments and Post-fire Rangeland Management

Retta Bruegger, CSU Extension Regional Specialist, Range Management | Western Region

10:15 a.m.

Q&A and Transition

Stations & Presentations • 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Mitigation Benefits & Wildfire Science

Cold Harbour, High School and Middle School Students

Wildfire Evacuation Planning (including Livestock) & CWPP

Gunnison Emergency Operations Center, Colorado Department of Agriculture

Defensible Space and Fuels Management Mitigation

West Region Wildfire Council

Firewise Landscaping & Fire-Resistant Plants

CSU Extension, County Cheatgrass Coordinator, Cold Harbour

Restrictions, Prescribed Fire (Field & Pile Burning)

Dept. of Fire Prevention and Control, Gunnison Fire Dept., Crested Butte Fire Dept., Bureau of Land Management (U.S. Wildland Fire Service), Gunnison Dispatch

Chipping & Slash Disposal

Colorado State Forest Service • 11:00 a.m. presentation

Chainsaw Safety

United States Forest Service • 11:30 a.m. presentation

Gunnison County Electric Association

GCEA

Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code

Gunnison County Community and Economic Development

Funding Resources for Landowners

Natural Resources Conservation Service

South Rim Fire — Lessons Learned

National Park Service

Raffle Prizes

Click any prize to see it up close — attend the workshop for a chance to win!

STIHL MSA 220C electric chainsaw STIHL MSA 220C Chainsaw 🔍
STIHL GTA 26 garden pruner STIHL GTA 26 Pruner 🔍
Fiskars lopers Fiskars Lopers 🔍
Fiskars pruning saws Pruning Saws 🔍
Fiskars pruner Fiskars Pruner 🔍
Work gloves Work Gloves 🔍

…and more!

Donated by CSU Extension Office, Colorado River Sustainability Campaign, Coalitions & Collaboratives, and Apex Land Management LLC

Wildland firefighter working in smoky forest at night
Learn how to help protect our community from wildfire.
Join Us

Registration Is Not Required

This is a free community event — just show up at the Fred Field Center in Gunnison on Saturday, April 25.

Saturday, April 25 • 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Fred Field Center • Gunnison, Colorado

Visit gunnisonwildfiremitigation.org

Questions? Contact Tonya Carr at gunnisoncd2006@gmail.com