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Breckenridge to pay property owners for cutting and thinning trees

Breckenridge property owners can take advantage of an incentive program offered by the town in an effort to reduce the risk of wildfire damage.

The town of Breckenridge will reimburse property owners $10 a tree, up to $200 per property, for the costs incurred in creating defensible space around structures and land within town limits.

The program is aimed at promoting fire mitigation and defensible space along with the county’s free chip-and-haul program.



To be eligible for reimbursement, property owners are required to participate in two property inspections.

The first is a free assessment that will provide recommendations for creating defensible space. The second and final inspection will determine whether effective defensible space was created and that street rights-of-way are clean and free of debris.



Property owners do not need to participate in the incentive program in order to create defensible space. However, removing live trees without an inspection requires a permit.

For the initial inspection, call one of the following: Red, White and Blue Fire Department, at (970) 453-2474, the Breckenridge Planning Department, at (970) 547-3188, or the Breckenridge Police Department, at (970) 453-2941.

Residents also can participate in the free chipping program offered by Summit County government and the Summit County Wildfire Council. Crews will go to neighborhoods and pick up trees, logs and branches up to 9 inches in diameter, free of nails, wire and rope.

Town residents may also drop clean, woody materials at the north end of the Satellite Lot (Skier Parking) on Airport Road — including trees larger than 9 inches in diameter — at no charge. The area is clearly marked with signs. The drop location is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and the town requests that residents keep piles organized; limbing and cutting on site are prohibited.

No construction materials, treated lumber, fence posts, shrubs, root wads, stumps, weeds, bagged materials, grass clippings or trash will be accepted by chipping crews or at the town drop-off site.

For more information about the Breckenridge incentive program and the pick-up schedule for the county’s free chip-and-haul program, visit townofbreckenridge.com/firemitigation.


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