Wildfire in Our Community
Understanding Local Wildfire Risk
Nationally, one out of every three homes are built in the Wildland Urban Interface, also known as the WUI (pronounced "woo-ee".) The WUI is a zone where wild plants and forests meet development, which makes homes vulnerable to a higher risk for wildfires.
As you can see in the interactive map below, wildfire is a critical threat in the Roaring Fork Valley. Use the Fire Intensity Scale in the interactive viewer to estimate wildfire risk in your community.
Wondering how vulnerable your property is to wildfire? See the maps below to better understand wildfire risk and local fire history:
Roadmap for Wildfire Resilience
In March 2023, the Nature Conservancy and the Aspen Institute created the Roadmap for Wildfire Resilience that weaves together lessons from decades of policy and practice with forward-thinking approaches that incorporate new technology and knowledge alter the current wildfire trajectory.
Preventing Wildfire
While many wildfires in Western Colorado are caused by dry lightning, an alarming number of fires have been ignited by careless human acts annually. See the link below for some helpful tips from the Carbondale and Rural Fire Protection District to follow when visiting public lands or other areas where wildland fires can ignite.
Reducing Risk: Community Wildfire Protection Plans
Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP) take an in-depth look at wildfire risk and propose solutions to reduce risk. In the Roaring Fork Valley, each county maintains and regularly updates their own CWPP. See links below for CWPPs for each county.
