In honor of Smokey Bear’s 80th birthday, this month we turn our attention to wildfire. While forest fires are a natural and essential component of healthy forest ecosystems, they are also dangerous for the people and communities that live within their reach. In addition, forest fires are increasing in size, frequency, and duration due to climate change. Finding ways to live safely in fire prone areas is essential in the Wildlands-Urban Interface where the needs of nature must be balanced by the needs of society. How can we mitigate the harmful effects of dangerous fires and still have healthy woodland habitats? Driven by the devastating fires of 2020, Colorado enacted two critical programs to address the destructive forces of fire on Colorado residents – Colorado Strategic Wildlife Action Program (COSWAP) and the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Roadmap 2.0.
Wildland fires require three fundamental components – heat, fuel, and oxygen – often referred to as the fire triangle.
Hot, dry weather is supplied in abundance during the spring and summer months, from May through September. The actual spark that ignites a fire can come from natural sources such as lightning or human activity, like a flicked cigarette butt or an unattended campfire. Dead trees, leaves, and fallen branches on the forest floor comprise the fuel and our atmosphere includes about 21% oxygen. On a windy day, that ingredient is continuously recharged. In the typical lifecycle of a temperate forest, a lightning strike might ignite the first sparks on a sweltering summer day, starting a wildfire that burns through the undergrowth, clearing and enriching the forest floor, while also helping pyrophytic plants that depend on fire to germinate, before eventually burning out. However, these natural conditions no longer exist, due to years of fire suppression that have allowed dangerous amounts of accumulated fuel, such as dead plant matter and beetle-killed pines, to collect on forest floors. Climate change has increased the average summer temperature by 2 degrees Fahrenheit and extended fire season by 78 days from what it was in the 1970’s. In Colorado we now have large fires every month of the year.
According to the Western Fire Chiefs Association, “The top 10 biggest fires in Colorado’s history have all taken place since 2002. The largest fire ever was the Cameron Peak Fire, which burned over 200,000 acres in the Arapaho and Roosevelt National forests and Rocky Mountain National Park during the devastating 2020 fire season. The 2022 Marshall Fire was the most destructive Colorado fire in terms of property damage, burning 1,084 homes during the three days it was active.” Colorado is taking proactive steps to ensure our safety through COSWAP in two ways. They have invested $145 million in developing a wildfire mitigation and forestry workforce and funding critical mitigation projects to protect both property and watersheds from wildfire.
What can we do to keep homes safe in the Wildland-Urban Interface? The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control provides the following guidelines:
Rake and remove pine needles and dry leaves 5 feet from the home, as well as under decks, porches, sheds and play structures.
Remove leaves and needles from roofs and gutters.
Sweep porches and decks clear of any burnable plant material.
Move firewood piles at least 30 feet from the house, preferably uphill.
Transfer items under decks or porches to a storage area.
Cover any exposed eave or attic vents with 1/8-inch metal mesh screening.
Ensure home address signs are clearly visible from the street.
Contact your local Office of Emergency Management to register for emergency notifications and encourage your friends, family and neighbors to do the same.
Confirm at least one alternate path out of your neighborhood other than the one most commonly used and be prepared for potential evacuation requiring the alternative route.
Almost 90% of fires are caused by human activity in the Wildland-Urban Interface. The Smokey Bear campaign provides fire prevention how-to’s for campfire safety, backyard debris burning, and equipment safety.
Finally, as the Nature Conservancy reminds us, “there is an underlying problem that is accelerating these fires—climate change. As the world warms, the Colorado forests are becoming drier—and therefore more susceptible to these mega-fires. Forests are part of a complex system, and a rise in temperature can have cascading impacts on tree health, precipitation and many other factors that contribute to fire risk."
This summer forest fires hit close to home with the Oak Ridge Fire three miles northwest of Beulah, which was detected on June 22nd and burned 1,310 acres before finally becoming 100% contained on August 2nd. The cause of the fire was a lightning strike. More than 500 firefighters responded to the fire. This part of the Pike-San Isabel Forest had not burned for over 100 years, providing a 2-foot deep layer of fuel for the fire. The management of the fire protected the residents of Beulah as firefighters created containment lines to keep the fire from spreading into the town. This month we remember to thank our vigilant, hard-working firefighters who are ready every moment to protect us from this dangerous, yet vital force of nature. We can show our gratitude by following all the rules of fire safety. To learn more about Wildland Firefighters, visit the Colorado Forest Service. Anne Casey, Director of Education