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List of Colorado wildfires
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List of the largest, most destructive, and deadliest Colorado wildfires that have occurred in modern history.

During the severe 2002 Colorado wildfire season that burned nearly 360,000 acres, the Hayman Fire became the largest wildfire in Colorado state history and held that title for nearly 20 years until the Pine Gulch Fire surpassed it in August 2020. The Cameron Peak Fire became the largest wildfire in Colorado history seven weeks later, and ended up burning a total of 208,913 acres.

The 2012 Colorado forest fires broke the record for most destructive fire twice and led to declaration of a federal disaster area in June 2012. The 2013 Colorado forest fires, fueled by high heat and winds again broke the record for the most destructive and included what was the second largest fire (by area) in Colorado history until being surpassed by several fires in 2020. With multiple record-breaking fires, the 2020 Colorado wildfire season became the largest in the state's history after burning 665,454 acres (269,300 ha).

According to CSU, wildfires in Colorado burned less than 100,000 acres (40,469 ha) per decade over the 1960s and the 1970s. For the 1980s and 1990s, the total was over 200,000 acres (80,937 ha) per decade. For the 2000s, the total was approximately 200,000 acres (80,937 ha).

Area burned per year

Starting in 2000, the National Interagency Fire Center began keeping more accurate records on the total fire acreage burned in each state, and has statistics going back to 1995.8

YearFiresAcresRef
19952,22432,0119
19961,80046,60010
19971,60516,70311
19981,4288,82612
19991,97833,25513
20002,04376,28814
20012,96645,81615
20024,600619,02916
20033,95743,85817
20042,81435,30318
20052,96941,04819
20064,515214,97920
20073,91426,51521
20082,883149,89122
20093,99174,54923
20104,28980,70824
20115,203176,72025
20126,114426,40326
20134,906222,91627
20143,73323,35728
20153,44226,31829
20165,572122,51730
20176,036111,28431
20187,092467,42432
20197,31853,74433
20206,716744,12034
20216,67956,05635
20228,37056,40336
20237,17540,99637
10-year Average5,30370,79838

List of 10 Largest Colorado wildfires

As of January 2025, the 10 largest wildfires in Colorado have been:

NameCountyAcresStart dateStructuresDeathsNotes
1.Cameron PeakLarimer208,913August 20204696Burned over a span of 112 days.3940 All deaths occurred in post-fire flood events related to the fire. Four people died in 2021,41 and two people died in 202242 from post-fire flash flood and debris flow events.
2.East TroublesomeGrand, Larimer193,812October 20205552The wildfire ran more than 100,000 acres in one day and jumped over the Continental Divide, prompting an evacuation of the entire town of Estes Park.43
3.Pine GulchMesa, Garfield139,007July 202010Briefly became the largest wildfire in Colorado history.44
4.HaymanDouglas, Jefferson, Park, Teller138,114June 20026006Held the title of the largest wildfire in Colorado for 18 years. Five deaths were firefighters died in an accident en route to the fire.45
5.West Fork ComplexHinsdale, Mineral109,615June 201300*Consists of multiple wildfires that burned in close proximity. Two of the wildfires, the West Fork Fire (58,570 acres) and the Papoose Fire (49,628 acres), would be the 8th and 10th largest fires in Colorado if treated separately.46
6.Spring CreekCostilla, Huerfano108,045June 2018140047
7.High ParkLarimer87,415June 2012259148
8.Missionary RidgeLa Plata73,000June 200247149
9.416La Plata54,130June 20180050
10.BridgerLas Animas46,257June 200800Only grassland wildfire to make the Top 10.51

List of 10 Most Destructive Colorado wildfires

As of January 2025, the 10 most destructive wildfires in Colorado have been:

NameCountyAcresStart dateTotal StructuresDeathsNotes
1.MarshallBoulder6,026December 20211,09121,084 homes and 7 commercial buildings were destroyed, all within a 24-hour period beginning early on December 30.5253
2.HaymanDouglas, Jefferson, Park, Teller138,114June 20026006Held the title of the largest wildfire in Colorado for 18 years. Five deaths were firefighters died in an accident en route to the fire.54
3.East TroublesomeGrand, Larimer193,812October 20205552The wildfire ran more than 100,000 acres in one day and jumped over the Continental Divide, prompting an evacuation of the entire town of Estes Park.55
4.Black ForestEl Paso14,280June 20134892Was the most destructive fire in terms of number of homes lost until the Marshall Fire.56
5.Cameron PeakLarimer208,913August 20204696Burned over a span of 112 days.5758 All deaths occurred in post-fire flood events related to the fire. Four people died in 2021,59 and two people died in 202260 from post-fire flash flood and debris flow events.
6.Waldo CanyonEl Paso18,247June 2012346261
7.High ParkLarimer87,415June 2012259162
8.Four Mile CanyonBoulder5,700September 2010162063
9.Spring CreekCostilla, Huerfano108,045June 2018140064
10.Iron MountainFremont4,439June 2002106165

List of Colorado's Deadliest wildfires (5+ Deaths)

As of January 2025, these are all the wildfires that have resulted in 5 or more deaths in Colorado:

NameCountyAcresStart dateTotal StructuresDeathsNotes
1.South CanyonGarfield2,115July 1994014All deaths were firefighters.66
2.Stable/Cheyenne MountainEl PasoUnknown*January 1950899*News articles state the fire grew to over 50 square miles in size, but this is very likely an exaggeration. No reliable records or sources exist. The wildfire spread rapidly with 70mph gusts and threatened the Broadmoor Hotel.67
3.Cameron PeakLarimer208,913August 20204696Burned over a span of 112 days.6869 All deaths occurred in post-fire flood events related to the fire. Four people died in 2021,70 and two people died in 202271 from post-fire flash flood and debris flow events.
3.HaymanDouglas, Jefferson, Park, Teller138,114June 20026006Held the title of the largest wildfire in Colorado for 18 years. Five deaths were firefighters died in an accident en route to the fire.72

See also

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38°59′50″N 105°32′52″W / 38.9972°N 105.5478°W / 38.9972; -105.5478 (State of Colorado)

References

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