2023 Colorado wildfires
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| 2023 Colorado wildfires | |
|---|---|
 The Spring Creek Fire on July 6 | |
| Statistics[1] | |
| Total fires | 6,503 |
| Total area | 16,190 acres (6,550 ha) |
| Impacts | |
| Damage | Unknown |
| Season | |
← 2022
2024 → | |
The 2023 Colorado wildfire season was a series of wildfires that have been burning throughout the U.S. state of Colorado.
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 237,500 acres (96,100 ha).[2]
List of wildfires
The following is a list of fires that burned more than 1,000 acres (400 ha), or produced significant structural damage or casualties.
| Name | County | Acres | Start date | Containment date[a] | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 403 | Gunnison | 1,096 | March 31 | April 13 | The National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) did not document information about this wildfire. | [4][5] |
| Gageby Creek | Bent | 4,600 | April 19 | April 28 | The National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) did not document information about this wildfire. | [6][7][8] |
| Spring Creek | Garfield | 3,256 | July 24 | October 1 | [9] | |
| Lowline | Gunnison | 1,999 | July 26 | December 13 | Lightning-caused. | [10][11] |
| Bear Creek | Hinsdale | 1,093 | July 28 | 2023 | Caused by lightning about 20 miles (32 km) northwest of Pagosa Springs. | [12][13] |
| Little Mesa | Delta | 4,009 | July 31 | September 20 | [14] | |
| Quartz Ridge | Archuleta | 2,850 | August 5 | October 30 | [15] | |
| Dry Lake | Archuleta | 1,372 | August 30 | September 12 | [16] | |
| Hope | Montezuma | 1,290 | September 21 | October 7 | Lightning-caused. Burned 9 miles (14 km) northwest of Dolores. | [17] |
| Iron | Moffat | 7,392 | September 29 | October 5 | Undetermined cause. Burned 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Craig. | [18][19] |
| Trail Springs | Archuleta | 1,358 | October 23 | 2023 | Lighting-caused. Burned 12 miles (19 km) northwest of Pagosa Springs. Was 44% contained on November 24. | [20] |
