This Is Not the Summer to Be Unprepared.
We had a dry winter. The forests are stressed. And between drought cycles and beetle kill, it’s not really a question of if we’ll see fires this season—it’s when.
Knowing where to go—and taking a few smart steps ahead of time—can make a meaningful difference in protecting your home and everything around it.
This isn’t a rewrite of all the wildfire advice that already exists—there’s a lot of it, and it’s actually really good.
Instead, this is a go-to list of where to find the right information quickly, without digging through ten different sites when you need it.
Bookmark this page now—so you can find it fast when it matters.
Protect What You Love
The best place to start is to gain an understanding of wildfire risk, how fires spread, and what preparedness actually looks like:
Live Wildfire Ready
https://csfs.colostate.edu/live-wildfire-ready/
The next step is to focus on your home’s specific risk and what can be done to reduce it:
- Protect Your Home & Property
https://csfs.colostate.edu/wildfire-mitigation/protect-your-home-property-from-wildfire/ - Home Ignition Zone Checklists
https://csfs.colostate.edu/wildfire-mitigation/protect-your-home-property-from-wildfire/home-ignition-zone-checklists/
These resources break mitigation into practical steps—what to address close to your home, and what to manage further out on your property. Together, they create what’s often called defensible space.
Even simple actions—like clearing debris, spacing vegetation, and keeping combustibles away from structures—can significantly improve a home’s chances of surviving a wildfire.
Have a Plan Before It Starts
This is the part people tend to skip—and regret later.
Family Communication Plan
https://csfs.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/family-emergency-communication-planning-document.pdf
Ready, Set, Go Wildfire Plan
https://csfs.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Ready-Set-Go-Wildland-Fire-Action-Plan-Pages-8-11.pdf
When something is moving fast, having a plan already in place matters. If you’re told to leave, leave early—don’t wait to see how it plays out.
Get Real-Time Information and Emergency Alerts
The most important step here is making sure you receive emergency notifications:
Colorado Emergency Alerts (sign up)
https://dhsem.colorado.gov/emergencyalert
If a wildfire starts nearby, this is how evacuation notices and critical updates are delivered.
For real-time information during fire season, these additional resources are also helpful:
- Current Fire Conditions & Restrictions
https://csfs.colostate.edu/wildfire-mitigation/current-wildfire-information-fire-restrictions/ - Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center
https://gacc.nifc.gov/rmcc/
Insurance Is Getting Harder
The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety has introduced the Wildfire Prepared Home program, which is starting to influence insurance decisions.
IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home Checklist
https://files.flexmls.com/ags/20260403165430691887000000.pdf
Certification may affect coverage availability and pricing—but more importantly, the checklist reflects the same mitigation practices that help protect homes in the first place.
Wildfire mitigation work may also qualify for a Colorado state income tax credit, depending on the improvements made.
What Matters
Wildfire has always been part of living in Colorado.
What has changed is the intensity of fire seasons—and how much preparation now matters.
Knowing where to go—and taking a few smart steps ahead of time—can make a meaningful difference in protecting your home and everything around it.