2021 Colorado wildfires


The 2021 Colorado wildfire season was a series of wildfires that burned throughout the U.S. state of Colorado. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, as of July 1, 2021, at least of land had burned in at least 337 wildland fires across the state. Hundreds of homes were burned, and the cities of Louisville and Superior were evacuated, during the Boulder County fires in late December.

Background

While "fire season" varies every year based on different weather conditions, most wildfires occur between May and September with a fire risk year-round with an increasing danger during winter. Drought and decreasing snowpack levels and lowering snowmelt and runoff increase fire risk. These conditions, along with increased temperatures and decreased humidity, are becoming more common from climate change. Vegetation growth provides an ample fuel for fires. From 2011 to 2020, Colorado experiences an average of 5,618 wildfires each year that collectively burn about.

List of wildfires

The following is a list of fires that burned more than or produced significant structural damage or casualties.
NameCountyAcresStart dateContainment dateNotesRef
Fort LyonBent1,43315 1 202116 1 2021
Oil SpringsRio Blanco12,61318 6 202110 7 2021Lightning-caused
WestMoffat, Sweetwater (WY)20 6 20211 7 2021Lightning-caused
Muddy SlideRoutt4,09320 6 202114 9 2021Lightning-caused; 18 structures destroyed
SylvanEagle3,79220 6 202114.10.2021Lightning-caused
Morgan CreekRoutt7,58610 7 202114.10.2021Lightning-caused
BijouMorgan3,08327 8 202128 8 2021Lightning-caused
Kruger RockLarimer14716.11.202120.11.2021Sparked by winds blowing a tree onto a nearby powerline; 1 firefighter fatality
Marshall FireBoulder6,02630.12.2021Unknown cause; 1,084 structures destroyed; 149 structures damaged; 1 fatality; 6 injuries