Las Animas County Seeks Consultant to Build Wildfire Protection Plan

Las Animas County is pursuing professional services to create a County Community Wildfire Protection Plan, a structured framework intended to map wildfire risk, set mitigation priorities, and provide clear actions for people who live and work across the county. The county posted a public procurement listing with reference number 0000391553 that includes submission instructions and the full request for proposals documents.

A Community Wildfire Protection Plan is designed to align local priorities with the needs of first responders and land managers, while giving residents specific guidance about risk reduction and preparedness steps. For Las Animas County this plan will inform where mitigation investments can have the greatest impact, help coordinate response strategies, and support applications for state and federal funding tied to wildfire resilience. Those outcomes carry direct implications for property owners, ranch operators, utility managers, and emergency services staffing and planning across the county.

The solicitation identifies county officials as points of contact for the procurement process. Phil Dorenkamp and Joe Richards are listed on the procurement documents. Firms interested in competing for the contract will need to follow submission instructions included with the RFP and supply the professional services information requested in the listing.

Timelines for selection and plan completion were not specified in the procurement summary released earlier in 2025, meaning residents should watch county notices for upcoming public meetings and draft review opportunities. When developed through inclusive public engagement and technical assessment, a CWPP can serve as both a practical operations document for first responders and a community resource that clarifies homeowner actions for reducing wildfire exposure.

As wildfire seasons lengthen and pressures on rural emergency services grow, the county level planning work underway aims to provide a coordinated approach across jurisdictions, land ownerships, and user groups. Residents and local organizations who want to track the procurement or review RFP materials should consult the public procurement listing under reference number 0000391553 for submission requirements and contact information.