NEDERLAND — Living in Colorado means living with the danger of wildfire, especially in the mountains. These days, that danger doesn't go away when summer ends.  Keeping trees trimmed, clearing brush, and getting those pine needles away from the house are critical all year round.

On Saturday, November 7, Boulder County's Wildfire Partners held a Mural and Mitigation Party at Nederland Feed and Pet Supply to celebrate a new mural on the side of the building. There were Voodoo Doughnuts, coffee, tea, and all kinds of free swag, including tote bags, stickers, reusable grocery bags, and tape measures.

Visitors pick up free tote bags and wildfire mitigation information at Nederland Feed and Pet Supply.

Photo by Mindy Leary

The idea was to get people talking about wildfire mitigation, maybe learn a thing or two, and take home some goodies.

Katie Palubicki, outreach program coordinator for Wildfire Partners, said this is the first year the program has used public art to help spread the word.

"We really wanted the murals to kind of raise that public awareness around mitigation, get people talking, get it where they're seeing it every day," she said.

The Nederland mural depicts a mountain home with fire-resistant landscaping. There's another mural in Lyons, although that one has a different design and artist.

Coffee, donuts, and a four-legged visitor at the Wildfire Partners Mural and Mitigation Party in Nederland on November 7, 2026.

Photo by Mindy Leary

You don't have to give up your trees, flowers, and landscaping to protect your home. Wildfire Partners recommends fire-resistant plants like yarrow, sedum, penstemon, poppy mallow, and aspen trees, which are less likely to burn than other vegetation.

Big Springs residents Joan Rasmussen and Matt Vitters stopped by the event. The couple has already done quite a bit of mitigation around their home, and Vitters knows a thing or two about wildfire. He's a wildfire scientist and volunteer firefighter.

When asked what homeowners should focus on first, his answer was simple: "Zero to five feet, and the home itself," he said.

The couple said quite a few people in their neighborhood have also been working on mitigation over the years, although not everyone has kept up with certification. Vitters encouraged others to take action.

"If I'm doing it — and I know more than most people — everyone should be doing it," he said.

Wildfire Partners offers free home assessments, where a specialist comes out, walks around the property, and helps homeowners figure out what needs to be done.  Rebates of up to $500 have also been available for qualifying mitigation work, with another round of rebates expected in the spring, pending approval.

Renters can help, too. Palubicki suggested talking to property owners about getting assessments.

The new mural is expected to stay up for at least a few years, reminding people of the importance of wildfire awareness and mitigation every time they pass by.

"Wildfire [danger] in Boulder County is year-round," Palubicki said. "So folks need to keep an eye out for it year-round."

For more information or to schedule a free home assessment, visit wildfirepartners.org.