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Colorado Wildfire Hazard Colorado Urban/Wildland Intermix Wildfire Threat In 1989, Colorado suffered its worst wildfire season on record. Numerous fires burned large areas of water- shed and other valuable resources, and many homes were destroyed. State fire suppression resources were overwhelmed and reinforcements had to be brought in from outside of Colorado. An unfortunate pattern has emerged in Colorado. Large intense fires have threatened or destroyed homes, disrupted public facilities and utilities, and caused an increasing number of communities to be evacuated. The continued growth of homes, businesses and recreational activities in the areas of greatest vul- nerability gives rise to increasing risks. Traditionally, wildfires have been suppressed by per- sonnel from forestry, county, or rural agencies accus- tomed to working in forest, brush, or range wildlands. But the growing number of developments in wildland areas has brought about an urban/wildland "intennix" that adds a new dimension of difficulty to fire sup- pression. Intennix wildfires present a greater threat to people and public improvements and have led to in- creased costs and dollar losses. Wildfire conditions have changed over the past 25 years, but only recently has the need to protect popu- lation, structures and improvements from wildfires become widely recognized. The forest canopy in inter- mix subdivisions has been essentially fire-free for dec- ades. These mature canopies are ripe for major crown fire/firestonn development under appropriate mois- ture, wind and temperature conditions. Specific reasons for the urban/wildland intennix are: lJ publie and private land ownership are highly mixed, lJ urbanization of outdoor recreation areas has in- creased, lJ priority placed on rural economie growth by state and county governments, and lJ land-use legislation has exempted some vulner- able tracts. Areas Most at Risk The greatest threat of public injury and property loss from wildfires exists where inhabited developments are close to areas of frequent fires and an abundance of natural fuels. Some counties in Colorado have a greater wildfire threat than others, as shown in the wildfire threat map of Colorado. The Fire Environment 'Wildfire" can be described as an open fire which spreads unconstrained through the environment. If not quickly controlled, the result can be a fire stonn, often tenned a "conflagration," which destroys large amounts of property and threatens lives. Since prehistoric times, wildfires have been a natural force in shaping and changing Colorado's landscape. Many of the state's tree, brush, and grass species have evolved into fire-dependent vegetation. Some are so fire dependent that their flammability increases with age, thus assuring renewal and continuation of the species. Wildfires will continue to occur on a regular basis. Most fire-prone wildland fuels are found on lower or middle elevations and drier sites which, unfortu- nately, are the same sites preferred by humans for de- velopment. Impacts The natural and less-complicated lifestyles people seek by bnilding and living in wildland areas has re- sulted in a dual fire threat: (1) danger to surrounding lands with increased fire ignitions, and (2) the menac- ing risk to wildland residents of losing their homes and possessions from encroaching wildfires. 36