What 2025 Wildfires Reveal About Colorado’s Fire Readiness
It’s a safe bet that it will be a long time before Western Colorado residents forget about the summer wildfires of 2025. Drought conditions were severe, and it seemed like every lightning strike that reached the ground started a fire.
From the Lee Fire (one of the largest in state history) to the South Rim Fire at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, what has this season taught us about how individuals, communities, and agencies can prepare and prevent wildfire damage?
Why 2025 Wildfires Changed the Game
Read More: How To Protect Your Home From Colorado’s Wildfire Season
We cannot control when or where lightning will strike, but there are things we can do to safeguard our homes. How much defendable space do you have surrounding your home right now? Creating more could be as easy as clearing brush, pine needles, and dead plants from your property.
The Colorado State Forest Service says trees and shrubs should be ten feet from your roof or walls. As if protecting your home was not enough, your family will need a plan too. Does your family have an evacuation plan with multiple routes? If the risk of a wildfire is high, do you have a “go bag” with the essentials your family and pets need?
What Individuals Can Do Today
Colorado is a state with a good reputation for wildfire response. Tools like Community Wildfire Protection Plans map areas into risk zones. This makes fuel reduction projects more efficient by addressing vegetation, evacuations, and better protecting homes and infrastructure in high-risk zones first, especially in areas prone to wildfires.
How Governments & Agencies Can Do More
I think our first responders, wildland firefighters, law enforcement officers, and the local sheriff’s office all did an incredible job this summer. Increasing our preparation for these fires with additional monitoring, smoke cameras, and the use of CWPPs will only sharpen Colorado’s focus. 2025 Wildfires like Wright Draw (Unaweep Canyon) and the Derby Fire burned through areas untouched for decades, stressing the importance of prescribed burns.
Mesa County plans to stay proactive against wildfires with the addition of a new Wildfire Dispatch Center being planned as part of the multi-million dollar expansion at Grand Junction Regional Airport.
Read More: New Improvements Coming To Grand Junction Airport With FAA Grant
LOOK: How to Protect Yourself from Wildfire Smoke
Gallery Credit: Unsplash/TSM
MORE WILDFIRES: Yellowstone Wildfire of 1988
Colorado Wildfire Damage by Year, Number of Fires + Acres Burned
Gallery Credit: Tim Gray