Most of the Roaring Fork watershed is located in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) where human development meets or intermingles with undeveloped wildland vegetation, creating a zone of increased risk for wildfires and other human-environment conflicts. 

Years of fire suppression, limited forest management, and hesitation regarding prescribed fire have allowed fuels to accumulate across our landscapes. Combined with hotter, drier seasons and stronger winds, these conditions create fires that ignite more easily and spread faster. Wildfire intensity refers to the amount of energy a fire produces and is influenced by the terrain and the type and amount of vegetation available to burn. For example, a crown fire racing through dense forest generates far more heat than a grass fire on flat ground. Understanding wildfire risk—and the factors that drive intensity—helps communities plan and act before the next fire starts.