Wildfire Awareness Month in Colorado: Preparing for a Hotter, Drier Future
May is Wildfire Awareness Month in Colorado, a critical time to focus on prevention, preparedness, and community resilience as wildfire seasons grow longer and more intense. With rising temperatures, reduced snowpack, and expanding human development into fire-prone areas, the risk of devastating wildfires continues to climb across the state.
Understanding the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI)
One of the most important, and vulnerable, areas in Colorado is the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI). This is where residential and commercial development meets undeveloped wildland vegetation. Over 2.9 million people in Colorado - nearly half of the population - live in the WUI, and that number continues to grow each year. Homes in the WUI are particularly at risk because they are surrounded by flammable landscapes and often lack defensible space or fire-adapted construction materials.
Lessons from the Cameron Peak Fire
The Cameron Peak Fire, which ignited in August 2020, remains Colorado’s largest wildfire on record, burning over 208,000 acres across the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests. It destroyed more than 460 structures and forced thousands to evacuate. Fueled by high winds, dry vegetation, and steep terrain, the fire was extremely difficult to contain and burned actively for more than three months.
One critical lesson from Cameron Peak and other recent fires is the need for community-wide mitigation and individual action. Homes that were hardened against fire, using noncombustible roofs, clear gutters, and defensible space, had a significantly higher survival rate.
What You Can Do This Wildfire Awareness Month
Create Defensible Space: Clear flammable vegetation within at least 30 feet of your home. Trim trees, remove dead plants, and keep grasses short.
Harden Your Home: Use ember-resistant vents, metal mesh screens, and Class A roofing materials.
Know Your Zone: Check if you live in a high-risk wildfire zone and develop an evacuation plan with your family.
Sign Up for Alerts: Register for emergency notifications through your county or local fire authority. Larimer Emergency Telephone Authority, LETA, LETA911, is the Governing Authority for 9-1-1 in Larimer and Jackson Counties in Colorado - sign up for LETA here.
Get Involved: Join community fire mitigation groups or participate in Firewise USA programs. Learn more at www.livewildfireready.org.
A local community member participates in a Pile Building and Burning Workshop in the Red Feather Lakes Area (Photo credit: Evan Barrientos).
Moving Toward Resilience
Wildfire is a natural part of Colorado’s ecosystems but with the changing climate and increasing development, the stakes are higher than ever. This Wildfire Awareness Month, let’s take action to reduce risk, support our firefighters, and build more fire-adapted communities.
Want to get involved locally? Learn more about the Red Feather Lakes Area Wildfire Defense Project, the Northern Colorado Fireshed Collaborative and/or read more about CPRW’s Forests Program!