Description and History:
Wildfire is one of the most significant natural hazards facing Larimer County due to its extensive forests, grasslands, and growing Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI). Between 2019 and 2025, more than 220,700 acres burned, including the Cameron Peak Fire, the largest wildfire in Colorado's recorded history. From 1980 to 2025, the county experienced 909 wildfire events, with approximately 65% caused by natural factors such as lightning and wind-damaged
powerlines.
Today, an estimated 58,300 people, 25,600 properties valued at nearly $21.9 billion, and 466 critical facilities are located in moderate to high wildfire hazard areas. Wildfires threaten lives, homes, businesses, infrastructure, watersheds, wildlife habitat, and recreation areas. In addition to direct fire damage, they can lead to evacuations, highway closures, poor air quality, utility disruptions, and long-term environmental impacts such as flooding, debris flows, erosion, invasive species, and degraded water quality. Agriculture, tourism, and outdoor recreation are especially vulnerable to wildfire losses. Climate change is expected to increase wildfire frequency and intensity as hotter temperatures, prolonged drought, declining forest health, and longer fire seasons create conditions for larger and more destructive fires. Future development in the Wildland-Urban Interface will continue to increase wildfire risk as more homes and infrastructure are built in fire-prone areas. The most effective mitigation strategies include creating defensible space around structures, reducing vegetation and other fuels, using fire-resistant building materials, and following Larimer County's Wildland-Urban Interface building codes. Planning for growth while incorporating wildfire-resistant design and land management practices will be essential to reducing future wildfire losses and improving community resilience.
Personal Preparedness:
Residents of Larimer County can reduce their wildfire risk by preparing their homes, families,
and property before a fire occurs. These resources provide residents with the latest wildfire
conditions, evacuation information, preparedness guidance, defensible space
recommendations, and tools to understand their property's wildfire risk. Key preparedness
actions include:
● Create defensible space by removing dead vegetation, keeping grass mowed, pruning
trees, cleaning gutters, and maintaining at least 30 feet of cleared space around your
home (or more where recommended).
● Harden your home by using fire-resistant roofing and siding materials, screening vents,
enclosing decks, and keeping combustible materials such as firewood away from
structures.
● Prepare for evacuation by creating a family evacuation plan, identifying multiple
evacuation routes, packing a go-bag with essential supplies, and planning for pets and
livestock.
● Stay informed by signing up for Larimer County emergency alerts, monitoring Red Flag
Warnings and fire restrictions, and following local emergency officials during wildfire
season.
● Reduce ignition risks by following burn bans, properly extinguishing campfires,
maintaining vehicles and equipment to prevent sparks, and safely disposing of smoking
materials.
● Protect important documents by storing insurance policies, identification, medical
records, and other critical documents in a fireproof container or secure digital location.
● Prepare for smoke impacts by keeping N95 masks, air purifiers, and extra medications
available, and monitoring air quality during wildfire events.
● Maintain your property year-round by removing fallen branches, thinning trees and
shrubs, and keeping driveways and address markers accessible for emergency
responders.
Important Information Resources:
For Larimer County residents, these are some of the most useful and trusted resources for wildfire information, preparedness, and emergency notifications. These resources provide residents with the latest wildfire conditions, evacuation information, preparedness guidance, defensible space recommendations, and tools to understand their property's wildfire risk.
