Late July wildfires ravage Front Range

A series of wildfires tore through the foothills of the Front Range last week, threatening homes, forcing evacuations, and necessitating a rapid, coordinated response by the state's emergency response network. Starting on Monday, residents of Niwot could see columns of smoke and ash billowing from the mountains. Those columns increased in number day by day until the western horizon was a panorama of infernos, choking the sky with smoke.

A long stretch of hot, dry conditions turned the vegetation into perfect tinder and set the stage for the fires. Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns due to climate change are increasing wildfire prevalence and severity worldwide, with the American West particularly at risk. Colorado, specifically, is vulnerable to early snowmelt, leading to a longer dry season and exacerbated drought conditions.

On Tuesday, the Stone Canyon Fire ignited alarmingly close to the populated downtown of Lyons. Shifting winds caused it to spread quickly in the afternoon, prompting evacuations in Lyons. Evacuees, including some students who attend Niwot High School, anxiously awaited news about their homes and property. Tragically, the Boulder County Sheriff reported that one person died, four firefighters were injured, and five homes were destroyed before the fire was contained.

Firefighters faced numerous challenges in containing the blazes across the state. The Alexander Mountain Fire, which started west of Loveland on Monday, quickly spread to over 5,000 acres and required around 400 fire personnel. At the Quarry Fire in Jefferson County, steep and rocky terrain made digging firelines difficult. Sweltering heat caused four firefighters to be taken out of the field due to heat exhaustion, according to Jefferson County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Mark Techmeyer. As if these weren't enough obstacles, firefighters also had to contend with prairie rattlesnakes fleeing the flames.

With so many fires burning simultaneously, resources across the state were spread thin. Emergency task forces had to make tough decisions about allocating precious air support and ground reinforcement. Governor Jared Polis deployed the Colorado National Guard for the first time since the horrific Marshall Fire of 2021. Wildfires burning elsewhere in Oregon, California, and Canada were already occupying large numbers of professional firefighters who work for interstate agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service.

According to a systematic review by Colleen E. Reid and others at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health, exposure to wildfire smoke can have acute and long-term detrimental health impacts, not just for those on the front lines, but also for the general public. It contains air pollutants such as carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and volatile organic compounds.

According to the CDC, there are steps you can take to protect yourself from wildfire smoke. First, check the air quality index at AirNow.gov or on your phone's weather app to know the air quality in your area. Staying inside and limiting exertion outdoors is the most effective way to reduce exposure. However, for those who work outside or must go out during smoky days, an N95 mask can help protect your lungs from pollutants like particulate matter and ash.

The surging incidence of wildfires and potential consequences for public health calls for an urgent plan to minimize damage. Colorado's population continues to boom, with development steadily pushing neighborhoods closer to the wildland-urban interface (WUI) – the zone where houses and natural areas meet. This trend puts more people at risk of experiencing the devastation these fires bring. Policymakers are considering a number of strategies to address this growing problem.

Stricter building codes in the WUI could prioritize fire-resistant materials and construction practices. Increased investment in controlled burns and forest management practices can help mitigate fire risk before catastrophic events unfold. Furthermore, policies that reduce carbon emissions and aim towards a clean energy future can help prevent the worst-case scenario – a parched and highly flammable future for Colorado.