Colorado Wildfire News
Colorado experiences wildfires every year, with some years being worse than others. The state has a diverse landscape with mountains, forests, and grasslands, which can make it particularly susceptible to wildfires under the right conditions. Some of the major Colorado wildfires in recent years include:
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Cameron Peak Fire (2020): This was the largest wildfire in Colorado's history, burning more than 208,000 acres and destroying more than 100 structures.
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East Troublesome Fire (2020): This fire burned more than 193,000 acres and destroyed or damaged more than 600 structures, including homes and businesses.
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Pine Gulch Fire (2020): This fire burned more than 139,000 acres and was the largest wildfire in Colorado's history until it was surpassed by the Cameron Peak Fire later in the same year.
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416 Fire (2018): This fire burned more than 54,000 acres and forced the evacuation of more than 2,000 homes.
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Waldo Canyon Fire (2012): This fire burned more than 18,000 acres and destroyed more than 340 homes in the Colorado Springs area.
These wildfires have had significant impacts on Colorado's communities, ecosystems, and economy, and have underscored the importance of preparing for and responding to wildfires in the state. The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control works with local fire departments, federal agencies, and other partners to prevent and respond to wildfires in the state.
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Colorado wildfire investigators would get funding, trained dogs under new bill
By Veronica Penney, Colorado Public Radio
Wednesday, Apr 12, 2023
Colorado's beleaguered wildland fire investigators may finally be getting some help.
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Legislation that would provide $2.8 million for more investigators and specially trained fire investigation dogs is gradually moving through the state Senate.
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Final passage is not guaranteed, but the money for the initiative is already baked into the state budget, and there has so far been general agreement among the Democratic majority that the resources are needed.
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“We really do need the funding to help with investigations,” said state Sen. JoAnn Ginal, D-Fort Collins, at a March 1 hearing. She said more wildfire investigations could help the state “get to the root of the problem.”
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Some of the state's largest and most destructive wildfires were found to have been caused by humans, but how and by whom are often never determined in Colorado.
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A 2022 Colorado Public Radio investigation that prompted the legislation found that of all the states in the West, Colorado has the worst rate of determining the ignition source of large, human-started wildfires. The state also has fewer investigators and less coordination at the state level than neighboring states.
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If the bill passes a full state Senate vote and is approved by the state House and Gov. Jared Polis, it will increase the state’s wildfire investigation budget by $2.8 million annually to provide funding for seven more investigators and additional trained canines.
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A similar bill failed in the 2022 legislative session.
Decades of wildfire suppression and climate change have expanded the annual wildfire season in the West, leading to more wildfires that burn more intensely. Roughly nine out of every 10 wildfires in the United States are started by humans.
State Sen. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, chaired last year’s Wildfire Matters Review Committee and said this year’s bill is one of the committee’s top policy recommendations.
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“If we fund investigations, that’ll provide the data we need to kind of track these things and help shape our path moving forward,” Cutter said.
Mike Morgan, director of the state Division of Fire Prevention and Control, testified in support of the bill. “Until you have the cause and origin, it's really hard to address the prevention side of things if you don't know exactly what's going on,” Morgan said.
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Local fire chiefs are responsible for investigating the cause of all fires within their jurisdiction. Morgan said that some well-funded fire departments in the Denver metro area have the resources to successfully investigate most fires. “However, there's about 375 fire departments across the state and probably about 325 of them don't have those resources,” he said.
The state currently employs just one wildland fire investigator to fill in all those gaps in rural communities.
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Only a handful of the state’s local fire departments or county sheriff’s offices employ trained wildfire investigators. Most fire departments have few resources and are staffed by volunteer firefighters, who may not have the time or training to investigate how wildfires are started.
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After two and a half years, investigators have determined that humans started the two largest wildfires in the state’s history, but have yet to announce the official ignition source for the East Troublesome and Cameron Peak fires.
At the March 1 hearing, Republican senators opposed the bill on the basis of cost.
“While I don't disagree, it's probably needed, you know, that $2.8 million as a continuing apportionment, I just have problems with that,” Sen. Byron Pelton, R-Sterling said. He said continuing to pass bills that require millions of dollars each year would bloat the state budget until it is no longer sustainable.
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The bill will head to a full Senate vote next, then needs to pass the House before reaching the Governor’s desk.
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Katie Jones, deputy press secretary for Polis, said the governor “supports investments that will improve our ability to investigate and understand wildfires, which can provide important information to create more efficient mitigation strategies” and looks forward to reviewing the final version of the bill.
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For more stories from Colorado Public Radio, visit www.cpr.org.
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Fire chiefs urge prevention and legislation to protect Colorado communities
By Sarah Mattalian Herald Staff Writer
Friday, Apr 7, 2023
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In a collective effort to protect the forests of Colorado, U.S. Sens. John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet have introduced legislation promoting awareness and fire prevention.
The efforts reach beyond legislators; fire chiefs Bruce Evans and Mike Morgan have long advocated for wildfire protections within the communities of Southwest Colorado.
Morgan, director of Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, has been a firefighter in Colorado for 37 years. One of the most harrowing moments of his career was the South Canyon Fire in 1994, a tragedy that claimed the lives of 14 firefighters.
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“I remember looking up at that hillside as the smoke was clearing and seeing the fire shelters deployed, knowing that there was going to be really, really bad tragic outcomes of what took place that day and hoping that I would never again see that level of loss of life and destruction,” Morgan said in an interview with The Durango Herald.
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Fortunately, there has never been another fire in Colorado where that many firefighters were lost. But Morgan has seen land destruction far more severe than South Canyon, which burned about 2,100 acres. The East Troublesome Fire, for example, burned more than 193,000 acres.
Morgan was part of the Wildfire Mitigation and Management Commission under the Biden-Harris administration. Morgan worked for the commission under Hickenlooper when he was governor.
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A continuation of this work, the Colorado Fire Commission was established, a stakeholder group composed of fire chiefs, firefighters, municipalities and other management agencies. CFC writes policy recommendations on mechanisms to address fire issues in the state. Working groups have also been established, looking at preventive measures such as prescribed fire to protect communities and land.
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Part of the conversation about prevention, Morgan said, has been a change in how they view wildfire.
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“Historically we have viewed the wildfire problem as a wildland problem, and being more of a natural resource concern,” Morgan said. “Now we're seeing communities destroyed, and the quality of life disrupted, and the levels of property loss.”
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Evans, fire chief at Upper Pine River Fire Protection District, has seen how wildfires impact communities.
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“When we look at wildfire situations now, they’re big fires that take entire towns or entire neighborhoods. They burn so ferociously and so fast that they scorch the landscape,” Evans said in an interview with the Herald.
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Even with nearly four decades of experience in emergency service settings, Evans said the past few years have been severe. Fires are no longer confined to a season, but are a year-round threat – one that Evans isn’t sure communities are prepared for.
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More people are moving to rural areas and building homes with highly flammable materials, something Evans describes as “stunning” given that more flame-resistant materials are available.
“We continue to build houses with building material that will (be) consumed in a fire,” Evans said. “You have an industry that fails to innovate and fails to adapt to the changes in the environment. For example, we're still putting wood siding and wood decking on homes that are in the intermix.”
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Evans is referring to an intermix wildland-urban interface, where human developments and structures are mixed with wildland, such as vegetation and forests. These intermixes are proven to be at a much higher risk for wildfire than other areas of development.
In terms of further preventing wildfires from destroying communities, Evans wants to see fewer people build homes in WUIs, or at the very least see homes built with fire-resistant materials. He also encourages people to be aware of their home insurance policies to avoid a costly, lengthy process of filing to rebuild or relocate.
“It'd be nice to have more firefighting resources, especially aircraft available,” he said. “And it would be great to have a more aggressive federal job training program for wildland firefighters.”
Sarah Mattalian is an intern for The Durango Herald and The Journal in Cortez and a student at American University in Washington, D.C. She can be reached at smattalian@durangoherald.com.
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Wildfire near Beulah human-caused; person of interest identified
PUEBLO COUNTY, Colorado — Fire bosses say a fire at near the Red Mountain Youth Camp in Beulah stands at 50 acres with little smoke showing as of Monday.
Crews have been able to contain 80% of the fire while securing and holding its edges.
According to the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office, the North Creek Fire is 10% contained. The mandatory evacuation order has been lifted. Residents are now on pre-evacuation status.
People will be allowed to return to their homes, but they must show an ID at traffic control points to be allowed in.
The Sheriff's Office says a preliminary investigation has revealed the North Creek Fire is human-caused. Officials announced a person of interest has been identified. Federal agents are assisting with the investigation.
Firefighters from multiple agencies have been dispatched to help suppress the fire.
The Community Animal Response Team was activated to assist evacuees with their animals. Livestock, with the exception of horses, may be taken to the Colorado State Fairgrounds, 1001 Beulah Avenue, in Pueblo. Evacuees should enter through Gate 4. Evacuees with horses were told to take their animals to the BARS Ranch, 6625 State Hwy 78.
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Colorado wildfire burns over 1,200 acres, homes evacuated
April 1, 2023
Colorado firefighters battle thick smoke during massive wildfire
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The Teller County Sheriff's Office warned of thick smoke during a massive fire in Colorado that has burned at least 1,286 acres destroyed.
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A wind-whipped wildfire in Colorado has spread across more than 1,286 acres across terrain, forcing evacuations of at least 100 homes and putting others on notice.
As of Saturday afternoon, the fire was about 25% contained, the Teller County Sheriff's Office (TCSO) shared. A fire watch and red flag warning remained in effect until Saturday, April 1 at 8 p.m.
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A fire abatement helicopter dropping retardant above the 403 blaze, which is near 25 percent containment. (Southern Park County Fire & EMS)
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Firefighters have worked tirelessly to contain the fire, despite wind gusts up to 50 mph. (Lake George Fire Chief Susan Bernstetter)
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The fired dubbed "the 403 fire," is being classified as "human-caused," the Teller County Sheriff's Office (TCSO) said in a press conference Friday, March 31.
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During the Friday morning press conference, the sheriff's office said that the fire was sparked on private land along Park County Road 403, southwest of the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument in Florissant, near Colorado Springs.
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Officials called for evacuations within a mile of the fire’s origin about 30 minutes after the fire was reported by a resident at 10:52 a.m. Thursday, authorities with the Park County Sheriff’s Office announced in a Twitter post.
Area of where the fire is in Colorado.
Authorities say that the current acreage is 1,286 and the fire is 25% contained. (403 Fire Official Page)
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Firefighters have worked through the night to attempt to contain the large fire in Colorado. (Lake George Fire Chief Susan Bernstetter)
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70-CAR TRAIN DERAILS IN NORTH DAKOTA, SPILLS HAZARDOUS MATERIALS: OFFICIALS
On Friday, winds in the area were about 30 mph with gusts up to about 52 mph, according to the National Weather Service. Cold weather, with temperatures in the upper 30s, aided firefighters in their efforts.
Since the fire began, firefighters worked through the night trying to contain flames burning in dry grass and spreading into trees on Thursday and Friday, but heavy winds complicated fire suppression efforts.
Fire crews fight to control the blaze that broke out on Thursday, March 28. (NE Teller County Fire Protection District)
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Multiple fire agencies are working on the fire, including the Lake George Fire Protection District, Hartsel Fire Protection District, Florissant Fire Protection District, Cripple Creek Fire Department and Divide Fire Protection District. A helicopter was being used as part of the firefighting effort.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment issued an air quality alert, warning of smoke from the fire and advising residents of Park and Teller counties to stay indoors if smoke becomes thick.
High winds rolling through the region are expected to range from 20 to 35 mph throughout the day. Gusts may reach as high as 50 mph, according to the National Weather Service. (NE Teller County Fire Protection District)
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Teller County Animal Control provided an evacuation service for residents to drop off their animal- including their cattle. PBJ Cattle, a local meat wholesaler, provided a safe place for pets, livestock and other animals to stay while the fire raged on.
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Colorado representative, senators want $60B to reduce fire risk, restore Western land
By Shannon Mullane, The Colorado Sun
Wednesday, Mar 1, 2023
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A patchwork of areas that burned and areas that were not touched along the Fern Lake Trail on the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park. The Cameron Peak fire and the East Troublesome fire raged around the park in fall of 2020 and 30,000 acres inside the park burned. (Kathryn Scott/Special to The Colorado Sun)
Wildfires are a big enough threat in the West that federal lawmakers are trying to get ahead of future burns by spending $60 billion to shore up forest, grassland and watershed health before fires can clog rivers, disrupt economies and end lives.
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U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet and Rep. Jason Crow, both Colorado Democrats, on Tuesday introduced a bill, known as the Protect the West Act, that would establish a grant fund to help reduce wildfire risk, restore forests and watersheds, expand outdoor access and improve wildlife habitats.
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“If it passed, we would reorient our focus on the condition of watersheds and … national forests in the West from a reactive, emergency-responsive posture to a posture where we’re making thoughtful and collaborative investments on the front end,” Bennet told The Colorado Sun.
Of the $60 billion, $40 billion would support federal partnerships with states and tribes to tackle the backlog of restoration and fire mitigation projects. The remaining $20 billion would be available to state and local governments, tribes, special districts and nonprofits.
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The bill, co-sponsored by Sens. John Hickenlooper of Colorado and Ron Wyden of Oregon, both Democrats, is designed to supplement, not duplicate or replace, existing federal funding, like the $8.3 billion set aside for Western water projects in the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.
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In Colorado, preserving forests and watersheds protects water resources, safeguards public lands and waterways, and bolsters the state’s outdoor recreation industry, Hickenlooper said in a news release.
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As proposed, the grant program would prioritize projects that create local jobs, assist communities transitioning away from fossil fuel extraction, serve lower-capacity communities, and are collaborative or use watershed data analytics.
The grants could support county efforts to reduce hazardous fuels where wild areas meet cities and towns, called the wildland-urban interface, or fund local contractors to remove invasive species, like cheatgrass, Bennet said. The bill could attract businesses that make use of low-value timber or projects that help restore watersheds in the drought-plagued Colorado River Basin, which provides water to 40 million people in the West.
“Literally the entire Colorado River Basin flows through the national forests that we’re talking about,” he said. “The condition of those forests is the equivalent of the condition of our watersheds.”
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This year’s bill is the third iteration of the legislation, which currently does not have Republican backing – a sign that the measure is likely to fail in a split Congress.
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The next step is to secure more sponsors for the legislation, Bennet said. Although this version is mostly the same, Bennet said, it adds on more grant-writing and training opportunities to help underserved communities apply for money and allows the federal government to accept private contributions for the restoration fund. It also includes provisions for new pay-for-performance contracts to help ensure the projects deliver what they promise.
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In 2020, the same year the first version was announced, Colorado was hit by the three largest wildfires by acreage in state history: the Cameron Peak and East Troublesome fires, both in northern Colorado, and the Pine Gulch fire in western Colorado.
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimated that the U.S. spent nearly $67 billion on wildfires over the past five years, according to the news release. Continuing to pay billions for wildland firefighting and post-fire recovery is “penny-wise and pound-foolish,” Bennet said.
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“It costs us 30 times more to recover from severe wildfires after they burn than to do the work to help restore the forest to begin with,” he said.
For Western states, underinvestment in conservation projects is an ongoing challenge, said Jon Goldin-Dubois, president of Western Resource Advocates, an environmental advocacy nonprofit. It limits the state’s ability to provide recreational access, handicaps efforts to attract federal-matching resources and makes it difficult to protect freshwater systems and wildlife habitat.
“Getting resources into communities at the level projected by this bill would make it one of the biggest investments ever in our forests, in Western landscapes, in Western communities,” Bennet said.
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Goldin-Dubois helped develop the 2021 version of the bill as one of many stakeholders consulted in Colorado.
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“From my perspective, at least, there are pieces here that support every part of economies across the West and across other regions,” he said. “I kind of feel like this is the sort of thing everyone should be supporting and endorsing.”
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