Colorado is no stranger to wildfires, but what once lasted four months of the year is now 78 days longer than it was in the 1970s. Every year, the state of Colorado witnesses major wildfires that prove to be a serious threat to life and livelihoods.
In the event of Colorado wildfires, it’s common for electrical grids to overheat and lead to power outages. In such emergencies, it helps to have a reliable power backup option. Jackery Solar Generators are a useful alternative that you can use to power up and recharge most of your appliances and gadgets. With these solar generators, you never have to worry about being disconnected from rescue services.
Key Takeaways
Here’s a brief overview of the key takeaways from this guide:
- Colorado has witnessed an increase in wildfires over the past few decades.
- While they can have natural causes, they’re often caused by human activity.
- The state of Colorado has several resources for information about wildfires and how to stay safe.
- The best way to prevent wildfires is to reduce the structural ignitability and clear out the defensible space of your home.
- Jackery Solar Generators are a reliable power backup option during a power outage in the event of a wildfire.
Colorado Wildfires Facts
Colorado is known for its natural beauty. Still, over the years, the state's increasing population combined with rising temperatures has led to an increase in the number of wildfires. In fact, 20 of the 20 largest wildfires have occurred in the state since 2001, and 11 of the top 20 wildfires occurred in just the last five years.
Moreover, certain forested areas are also susceptible to wildfire, known as crown fires, which often spread from treetop to treetop. These inevitably become a lot more difficult to contain, and as a result, lead to immense loss of natural life.
While there are several causes of these wildfires, the principle among them include:
Droughts
The primary cause of the increase in droughts in Colorado is climate change. Climate change has impacted the state to the extent that they’re expected to reduce its spring snowpack levels, inevitably leading to drier conditions and higher temperatures.
Lower snowpack levels will also lead to lower runoff, which will affect the availability of water for agriculture, native life, and communities as a whole.
Additionally, while the summer rains can help prevent regions from drying out, they also lead to vegetation growth across the state. When this vegetation dries over the winter, it becomes ready fuel for wildfires, further increasing the risk of wildfires during the cold months.
Human Activity
While climate change is a natural process, human activity inevitably is the leading cause of wildfires in Colorado. In fact, according to the Congressional Research Service, human activity is the cause of 90% of the state’s wildfires.
Activities such as burning debris on a windy day can lead to fires spreading uncontrollably in seconds, and carelessly disposing of cigarettes and lighters can also result in a wildfire.
As a result, residents and others alike must be mindful of how they dispose of debris and when they burn it. They must also keep fire extinguishers handy to help contain a fire once it lights up beyond what was intended.
While Colorado’s wildfire season typically lasts from May to September, with the risk heightened during the summer, the state has seen fires every month of the year over time. To deal with the fires, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is staffed five to seven days a week to tackle fire-related incidents.
The two tables below demonstrate the details of Colorado’s largest fires based on acreage and the number of homes lost to give you a clearer idea of the extent of devastation they have caused in the past.
Colorado’s Largest Fires Based on Acreage
The table below lists the seven largest wildfires based on acreage in Colorado.
|
Rank |
Fire |
Acerage |
Year |
|
1 |
Cameron Peak |
208,913 |
2020 |
|
2 |
East Troublesome |
193,812 |
2020 |
|
3 |
Pine Gulch |
139,007 |
2020 |
|
4 |
Hayman |
137,760 |
2002 |
|
5 |
Spring Creek |
108,045 |
2018 |
|
6 |
High Park |
108,045 |
2012 |
|
7 |
Missionary Ridge |
108,045 |
2002 |
Colorado’s Largest Fires Based on Homes Lost
The table below shows the five largest wildfires in Colorado, ranked by the number of homes lost.
|
Rank |
Fire |
Homes Lost |
Year |
|
1 |
Marshall |
1,084 |
2021 |
|
2 |
Black Forest |
489 |
2013 |
|
3 |
East Troublesome |
366 |
2020 |
|
4 |
Waldo Canyon |
346 |
2012 |
|
5 |
High Park |
259 |
2012 |
As the data above shows, Colorado has witnessed some of the most destructive fires over the past two decades, and the effects of these are only set to worsen with rising global temperatures and an increase in population.
The next table lists some of Colorado's largest and most recent wildfires, along with their key details.
|
Fire & Year |
Start Date |
Size (Acres Burnt) |
Location |
|
East Troublesome Fire (2020) |
10/14/2020 |
193,812 |
Grand and Larimer Counties |
|
Oil Springs Fire (2021) |
6/18/2021 |
12,613 |
Rio Blanco County |
|
Morgan Creek Fire (2021) |
7/10/2021 |
7,586 |
Routt County |
|
Marshall Fire (2022) |
12/30/2021 |
6,200 |
Boulder County |
|
Gageby Peak Fire (2023) |
4/19/2023 |
4.600 |
Bent County |
Colorado Wildfire Contacts and Resources
While everyone must take steps to minimize the risk of setting a wildfire ablaze, reporting one is just as essential if you see it. There are several reasons for this:
- Wildfires spread fast, and delays in reporting them can lead to them going from controllable to uncontrollable.
- Wildfires can spread with impunity in areas with consistent, dry vegetation, often posing major threats to residential areas around them.
- They can lead to major loss of life and property and affect agricultural land for substantial periods.
If you spot a wildfire, no matter how small, call 9-1-1 immediately and inform the authorities of the incident. Timely reporting maximizes the chances of the fire department containing the fire before it becomes larger and also provides rescue services with enough time to alert nearby residents to evacuate to safety.
Given below is a list of all the resources in the event of a wildfire in Colorado based on different categories:
Current Reports and Statistics
To keep up with the latest reports and statistics on wildfires in the state of Colorado, you can check out the following resources:
- NIFC (National Interagency Fire Center) National Situation Report- PDF
- NIFC (National Interagency Fire Center) National Wildland Fire Statistics
- NIFC (National Interagency Fire Center) National Fire News
Mapping Tools and Information
The following resources can help you map wildfires across Colorado so you can watch out which regions they’re in.
- National Fire Situational Awareness Tool (NFSA)
- Wildland Fire Assessment System (WFAS)
- NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Fire Detection and Smoke
Prevention
The resources mentioned below offer information on preventing wildfires and who to contact if you encounter one.
- Colorado Division of Fire Prevention & Control- Community Preparedness
- Firewise USA
National Wildland Fire Agencies and Organizations
The following list includes resources for all the state of Colorado's dedicated wildland fire agencies and organizations.
- National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC)
- National Park Service, Fire Management Program Center
- Bureau of Land Management, Office of Fire and Aviation
- USDA Forest Service, Fire, and Aviation Management
- Bureau of Indian Affairs, Wildland Fire Management
- National Association of State Foresters
Geographic Area Coordination Centres for Regional Information
This section includes resources to key coordination centers for regional information on wildfires:
- Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center(Coordination Center for Colorado)
- Northern California Geographic Area Coordination Center
- Southern California Geographic Area Coordination Center
- Alaska Interagency Coordination Center
- Eastern Area Coordination Center
- Great Basin Coordination Center
The Impact of Wildfires
Wildfires are amongst the most dangerous natural calamities, often causing immense destruction if not reported on time. Their impact spreads far and wide: on wildlife, human beings, and the environment.
Depending on the speed, size, and proximity to the fire, livestock, agricultural land, wildlife, and property stand at great risk of destruction.
- Animals:Large wildfires can potentially burn the vegetation on the ground and entire trees, particularly when they’ve dried up over extended periods of drought. These fires can kill and displace several species of wildlife and pollute the environment and water sources around them.
- Property and livestock:Another significant result of wildfires is the damage they cause to large plots of land and any property on them, such as agricultural produce and even livestock in some cases. They also often lead to loss of life, be it of the residents in an area or that of firefighters.
How to Prevent Colorado Wildfires
While Colorado wildfires are natural phenomena that can sometimes be caused simply by nature taking its course, the data above shows that most result from human activity. Preventing wildfires thus becomes crucial, as they can spread rapidly and reach a point where containing them becomes a challenge.
Being responsible while outdoors and responsive during a wildfire can help prevent immense loss of life, livelihood, and property.
Below is a checklist for ensuring that every part of your home and property is managed to minimize the risk of a wildfire spreading. It’s been divided into different categories for your reference.
Home and Property Prevention Tips
This section discusses key tips that you can use to keep your home and property safe during a wildfire. They range from reducing the ignitability of your home’s structure to the defensible area around it, along with precautions to take when storing firewood, propane tanks, etc.
Home Ignition Zone
The home ignition zone refers to the space occupied by the structure of a home or a building and its ignitability, along with the defensible space around it. The two key solutions to prevent a wildfire from causing damage to your property are to minimize the use of inflammable material in the structure of your home and to eliminate the presence of nearby fuel (dry vegetation, etc.)
While it’s always ideal to reduce the structural ignitability of a house when it’s being constructed by choosing your materials wisely, there are several things you can do to achieve this in an existing home. Here are a few things you can consider:
- Make sure that your home’s roof has a Class A fire rating.
- Remove any debris, such as dry leaves, from your roof and gutters.
- Use tempered glass for your home’s windows with two or more panes.
- Screen parts of your house, such as the eaves, foundation, attic, and roof, with 1/8th-inch metal mesh.
- Replace any gates or fences made of combustible materials, especially if they’re within five feet of your home.
Defensible Space
Next, you must also take certain precautions to ensure your home’s defensible space is least prone to aiding a wildfire. The defensible space refers to the area surrounding your home that has been modified to reduce the risk of a wildfire spreading. It helps prevent the fire from spreading to your home and neighboring homes.
The defensible space is divided into three zones: Zone 1 (0-5 feet from your home), Zone 2 (5-30 feet from your home), and Zone 3 (30-100 feet from your home).
Here are a few precautions you can take to ensure the defensible space is least prone to igniting in the event of a wildfire:
- Mow all the grass and weeds to a height lower than 4 inches.
- Any flammable material like dry leaves and pine cones must be raked beyond a distance of 5 feet from your home’s foundation and deck.
- Remove any branches that hang over your home’s roof or chimney.
- Any splash from thinning trees and shrubs must accumulate and be taken to a disposal site in an open area to burn later. Any slash that’s been chipped must be accumulated at a distance greater than 30 feet from your home.
Firewood
Here are a few precautions to take if you have firewood on your property:
- If you have any firewood on your property, keep it stacked uphill from or at the same elevation as any structures. The woodpile must also be kept at least 30 feet away from your home as it can be deadly fuel in a wildfire.
- Avoid stacking firewood between trees, below, or on your deck. As mentioned above, 30 feet from your home is ideal.
- Any flammable vegetation must be at least 10 feet from the woodpile. Any such vegetation within a 10-foot radius must be cleared.
Propane Tanks
If you have propane tanks on your property, here are a few precautions you must take to ensure they don’t fuel any potential wildfires:
- Any above-ground propane tanks must be kept at least 30 feet from your home’s structure. It must also ideally be on the same elevation as your house.
- Any flammable vegetation within 10 feet of your tanks and gas meters must be completely cleared.
Driveways
Your driveway also needs to be designed and managed with certain precautions in mind to ensure it minimizes the spread of a wildfire and reduces the risk of property damage:
- If you have any trees around your driveway, keep the crowns at least 10 feet apart, and keep the trees themselves at least 30 feet away from either side of the driveway and the access road to the house.
- Any shrubs within 10 feet of the outer edge of the tree crowns should be removed.
- Any ladder fuels must be removed from beneath trees after thinning.
- Post signs with your house number at the end of your driveway. Ensure that the material used is non-combustible, reflective, and easily visible to rescue teams in an emergency.
Individual and Traveler Prevention Tips
As an individual or a traveler, you must take certain precautions to minimize the risk of igniting a wildfire. Here’s a comprehensive list for you to take note of:
- Make sure to keep any campfires small and manageable.
- Never leave a fire burning unattended. A few minutes away can lead to devastating consequences.
- Don’t build a campfire in places that could fuel a wildfire. Dry vegetation and windy conditions are red flags.
- Ensure that you light a campfire in a place that permits it.
- Make sure to burn the wood completely till it’s ash. Leaving unburnt wood lying around can prove to be hazardous.
- Once you’re done, saturate the ash with water to ensure it’s cool to the touch. Then, remove any trash from the area, especially if it’s combustible.
- Don’t rush to put it out in the event of a fire, especially if it’s unmanageable, as you’ll risk injuring yourself and those around you. Contact 9-1-1 immediately and inform your local camp sheriffs.
Water, Air, and Forest Tips
During a wildfire, the water, air, and forests stand a high chance of facing immense destruction in different ways. Here are a few threats to these natural resources and what you can do to prevent them.
Water
Water is possibly the most crucial natural resource that can be contaminated in a wildfire. Here are some key threats to water bodies and what you can do to prevent them.
Key Threats:
- The ash and debris from a wildfire can flow into rivers and lakes and contaminate the water.
- The heat from a wildfire can also damage water treatment plants and pipelines, which can pollute the water.
Prevention Tips:
- Create a defensible space around your home and remove any flammable debris that could fuel a fire.
- Fix leaks, reduce your outdoor water use, and recycle water to save as much as possible, particularly during the drier months or times of drought.
Air
Wildfires undoubtedly impact the air in the region, which in turn leads to a host of other challenges. Here are some key threats to the air in the event of a wildfire and what you can do to prevent them.
Key Threats:
- The particulate matter and ash in the smoke from a wildfire can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat. It can also cause or aggravate existing respiratory issues.
- Large fires considerably increase the levels of carbon monoxide in the air, reducing the oxygen available for our bodies and those of the wildlife around us.
Prevention Tips:
- Keep track of the Air Quality Index (AQI) in your area during a wildfire.
- Stay indoors with your doors and windows closed during a wildfire. Use air purifiers with HEPA filters and avoid stepping outside when the air quality is poor.
Forests
Like the water and the air, forests are prone to major destruction in the event of an untamable wildfire. Here are some key threats to forests and what you can do to prevent them.
Key Threats:
- When wildfires spread through forests, particularly crown fires, they can often cause immense damage to infrastructure and property and the loss of wildlife.
- Wildfires can lead to soil erosion as they destroy vegetation and burn away any organic matter. This leaves the soil prone to erosion caused by air and water.
Prevention Tips:
- Educate yourself about the best practices to prevent wildfires, particularly in places with lots of vegetation.
- Volunteer with organizations that engage in clearing out vegetation and shrubs to prevent wildfires during the dry months.
Evacuation Plans
When wildfires are untamable, rescue services often evacuate people from nearby settlements for their safety. If you live in an area prone to wildfires in Colorado, having a detailed evacuation plan is crucial, as it can help save precious time in the event of an unmitigated disaster.
Here’s how you can create an evacuation plan:
Step 1: Ensure every household member knows and understands what to do during a wildfire.
Step 2: Incorporate other locations, such as your office, daycare, and so on in your plan.
Step 3: Ensure all your insurance and other documents are current and in your bug-out bag. Make digital copies and store them in a password-secured space.
Step 4: Practice your evacuation routes occasionally and account for any pets. Keep their crates or bags handy if you evacuate immediately during a fire.
Step 5: Gather all the essentials to create a bug-out bag. These include a first aid kit, food, drinking water, a flashlight, and a backup power supply like a solar generator. A solar generator can also be helpful if a wildfire in your region results in an extended power outage.
Note: Consider any pets you may have and keep all their documents handy in your bug-out bag.
Wildfire Mitigation
Wildfire mitigation refers to taking necessary steps to prevent a wildfire in the first place. These activities include home hardening, forest management, managing your defensible space, and so on. Any activities carried out once a wildfire breaks out don’t come under the umbrella of wildfire mitigation.
While homeowners perform activities such as home hardening and managing the defensible space themselves, public land managers do so by proactively managing the land under their jurisdiction. This includes managing forests to remove any fuel that might accumulate over time.
Jackery Solar Generators for Emergencies
Jackery is a renowned manufacturer of solar generators portable power stations, and solar panels. The Jackery Solar Generators seamlessly combine Jackery Portable Power Stations and Jackery SolarSaga Solar Panels to give you a reliable backup power supply in an emergency, such as a power outage caused by a wildfire or other calamity.
When the solar panels are placed under direct sunlight, they absorb solar energy and convert it to DC electricity. This is then passed through the pure sine wave inverter in the portable power stations to convert it into AC electricity, which you can then use to run your appliances and recharge your devices.
Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro
The Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro is the brand’s large-capacity solar generator, combining foldable solar panels with a portable power station. It offers a reliable source of electricity to run most of your essential appliances during an emergency and can also be carried in a bug-out vehicle if you need to evacuate from your home. The system can be charged via solar energy and even a wall charger, making it versatile in various situations.
Appliances Running Time:
- CPAP Machine (40W) = 64.2H
- Smartphone (29W) = 88.6H
- Ventilator (20W) = 128.5H
- Heater (1800W) = 1.4H
- Refrigerator (520W) = 4.9H
Customer Review:
“This machine is amazing. Great alternative to propane and gas. Quiet and solar charging capable. Recommend to everyone!” - Ben.
Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus
The Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus is an expandable solar generator that offers a reliable backup power supply in an emergency. Whether dealing with a power outage due to a wildfire or needing to evacuate your home, this solar generator is a good option. The solar panels are foldable, and the portable power station has a handle and wheels that allow you to carry it wherever you go. As a result, you won’t be left stranded without access to electricity, no matter where you are.
Appliances Running Time:
- CPAP Machine (40W) = 43.4H
- Smartphone (29W) = 59.8H
- Ventilator (20W) = 86.8H
- Heater (1800W) = 54 minutes
- Refrigerator (520W) = 3.3H
Customer Review:
“Living in the Florida Keys, we have to prepare for hurricanes. Irma put us without electricity for 10 days. We needed solar-generated backup power. Once I gave the equipment a tryout for 48 hours, we were very happy and felt good about comfortably living through the next bad hurricane.” - Steven.
Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus
The Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus is an expandable solar generator with a decent capacity. It can power up most of your appliances in the event of a power outage or an emergency. The solar panels and portable power station are both highly portable, making it easy for you to carry with you if you need to evacuate your home during a wildfire.
Appliances Running Time:
- CPAP Machine (40W) = 26.8H
- Smartphone (29W) = 37.0H
- Ventilator (20W) = 53.7H
- Heater (1800W) = 30 minutes
- Refrigerator (520W) = 2.0H
Customer Review:
“Great. It can run after quiet hours at campgrounds if you have any issues with your batteries. Kept us from freezing at Mount Laguna.” - Jake.
How to Stay Safe During a Colorado Wildfire
Wildfires can be dangerous, particularly if you don’t heed emergency broadcasts and take any preventive measures to reduce the risk of harm to yourself and your family. Here are a few tips to stay safe during a wildfire:
- Keep track of local alert systems such as NOAA Weather Radio and EAS.
- Wear an N95 respirator mask to reduce the risk of smoke and particulate inhalation.
- Take shelter in a room where doors and windows are blocked to prevent air from flooding.
- Move inflammable furniture made of wood and jute inside or as far away from your home as possible.
- Pack your bug-out or emergency kit in your bug-out vehicle and keep it ready if you need to evacuate immediately.
- Fill any garbage cans, pools, or tubs with water to aid rescue services when they arrive at the scene.
- Connect all water hoses to a running water supply.
- Avoid rushing to the fire, as you could get burned or injured.
- Call 9-1-1 if you need to report a fire or are trapped due to one. However, remember that the rescue services might take some time to arrive at the scene amidst such large-scale destruction.
How to Evacuate During a Wildfire
You might need to evacuate during a wildfire in several different scenarios. The following tips can help you remain safe if you’re sheltering in place, evacuating, driving during a wildfire, or are on foot.
- If you’re sheltering in place, turn off your home’s natural gas or propane, turn off devices that circulate air through the house, wet the yard and roof with a sprinkler or a hose if possible, and close all inside windows to slow the spread of fire inside the house.
- If you’re driving, turn your headlights and hazard lights on, drive slowly as visibility could be limited, close or block your car’s air vents, roll up your windows, and only use recirculated air.
- If you’re on foot, find an open place with no vegetation and try to get into a ditch or be as low as possible. Lie with your face down, cover your face with dirt, mud, or water, and cover yourself with a non-flammable material like a wool blanket (instead of a synthetic blanket, for example). Use a cloth to filter the air you breathe, and call 9-1-1.
Recovery After Colorado Wildfires
Once a wildfire has been contained or has naturally subsided, you must still take certain precautions to ensure your safety and that of your family. Here are a few tips to help:
- Only return after a wildfire when the officials say it’s okay to do so.
- Entering your home before an all-clear could result in you inhaling smoke or getting burned from falling embers.
- Remove ash and asbestos with the utmost caution. Always wear an N95 respirator mask to avoid inhaling asbestos particles.
- Avoid consuming food that the fire, smoke, or ash might contaminate, as well as any materials or chemicals used to douse the fire.
- Wear a long-sleeved shirt, nitrile gloves, and safety glasses when removing fire suppressants.
- Make sure to stock up on enough water, as wells or septic systems could be adversely damaged and contaminated by wildfires and power outages.
- Volunteer with any organizations in your region to recover damaged property and restore normalcy as far as possible.
- FEMA’s Individual and Households Program (IHP) provides financial or direct assistance to eligible individuals during a disaster.
- The USDA Farm Service Agency also provides emergency assistance for livestock, honey bees, and farm-raised fish.
- Prepare yourself for future wildfires by creating a detailed emergency plan, planning escape routes, and stocking up on essentials like non-perishable food, water, a first aid kit, and a Jackery Solar Generator.
Colorado Wildfires FAQs
What size of solar generator do I need for an emergency?
The size of the solar generator you need in an emergency like a wildfire will depend on how many appliances you need to run. For example, if you're using the Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro to run your CPAP machine (40W) and ventilator (20W), you can calculate the working hours as follows:
Working Hours = Battery Capacity in Wh × 0.85 ÷ Operating Wattage of the Appliance = 3024Wh × 0.85 ÷ 60W = 42.8H
Note: The 0.85 is the power conversion factor multiplied by the battery capacity to account for power loss when charging the appliances.
How long does it take to recover after a wildfire?
While some grasslands can recover fairly quickly after a wildfire, denser forests can take decades to fully recover from the calamity's effects.
What should you avoid during a wildfire?
The two key things to avoid during a wildfire are fragile trees, which can be inflammable, and downed power lines, which can electrocute you.
What is the best way to put out a wildfire?
The best way to put out a wildfire is to remove one of three elements: fire, oxygen, or fuel. Firefighters typically use fire retardants or water to douse a wildfire, or even by air using helicopters or airplanes.
Where is the safest place to be during a wildfire?
The safest place you can be during a wildfire is an open space with no vegetation or any other flammable material. You should get as low as possible, such as in a ditch, lie down, and cover your face with mud, water, or dirt.
Wrap up
Wildfires are amongst the most destructive natural calamities, and unlike others that may not last too long, they can continue wreaking havoc if they’re not put out. Colorado has witnessed an increase in the number and scale of wildfires in recent years, and this trend is only set to worsen with the effects of climate change.
Ensuring you and your family remain safe during a Colorado wildfire is of the utmost importance, and one of the best ways to ensure this is to have a reliable backup power supply option. Jackery Solar Generators are a trustworthy and portable solution that you can use to run most of your essential appliances, so you’re never stranded, even if you’ve evacuated your home.
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