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Flames envelop a stand of trees, with smoke billowing into the sky.
Illustration provided by Gigafact

Yes.

The number of wildfires in Colorado more than doubled in the past 20 years, from an average of 3,400 fires per year between 2000-2003 to roughly 7,200 fires per year between 2020-2023. 

Colorado’s 20 largest wildfires all occurred after 2001. The Cameron Peak fire in 2020 was the state’s largest, burning over 200,000 acres in Larimer and Jackson counties and Rocky Mountain National Park. The most destructive was the Marshall fire in 2021, which destroyed roughly 1,100 homes in Boulder County. Historically, Colorado’s major fires were limited to summers. Today, Colorado experiences large fires throughout the year. 

While there are no clear nationwide trends regarding wildfire frequency, the Southwestern U.S.— Colorado included — has seen larger, more frequent and more destructive wildfires. Drier climates, logging, shrinking snowpack and previous fire suppression policies have left forests vulnerable to burning. Human development in wildland areas is also a factor. 

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References:

Number of wildfires in Colorado, compiled by ¶º±ÆÖ±²¥ using data from the National Interagency Fire Center, March 2025.

Historical Wildfire Information, Colorado Division of Fire Prevention & Control, accessed in March 2025.

Recovery efforts for the Cameron Peak Fire, Coalition for Poudre Watershed, Aug. 2, 2023.

Looking back at Colorado’s Marshall Fire, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Jan. 8, 2024.

Climate Change Indicators: Wildfires, Environmental Protection Agency, Feb. 4, 2025.

Fifth National Climate Assessment, U.S. Global Change Research Program, accessed in March 2025.

Por recently graduated from CU Boulder with a master’s degree in journalism and is interested in writing about the environment and exploring local stories. When not working on some form of writing, Por is either looking for Thai food or petting...