List of Colorado wildfires
List of wildfires in the U.S. State of Colorado
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a list of the largest, most destructive, and deadliest Colorado wildfires that have occurred in modern history.[1]
During the severe 2002 Colorado wildfire season that burned nearly 360,000 acres, the Hayman Fire became the largest wildfire in Colorado state history. It held that title for nearly 20 years,[2][3] until the Pine Gulch Fire surpassed it in August 2020.[4] 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.[5] The 2013 Colorado forest fires, fueled by high heat and winds,[6] 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).[7]
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).
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 237,500 acres (96,100 ha).[8]
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.[9]
| Year | Fires | Acres | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 2,224 | 32,011 | [10] |
| 1996 | 1,800 | 46,600 | [10] |
| 1997 | 1,605 | 16,703 | [10] |
| 1998 | 1,428 | 8,826 | [10] |
| 1999 | 1,978 | 33,255 | [10] |
| 2000 | 2,043 | 76,288 | [10] |
| 2001 | 2,966 | 45,816 | [11] |
| 2002 | 4,600 | 619,029 | [12] |
| 2003 | 3,957 | 43,858 | [13] |
| 2004 | 2,814 | 35,303 | [14] |
| 2005 | 2,969 | 41,048 | [15] |
| 2006 | 4,515 | 214,979 | [16] |
| 2007 | 3,914 | 26,515 | [17] |
| 2008 | 2,883 | 149,891 | [18] |
| 2009 | 3,991 | 74,549 | [19] |
| 2010 | 4,289 | 80,708 | [20] |
| 2011 | 5,203 | 176,720 | [21] |
| 2012 | 6,114 | 426,403 | [22] |
| 2013 | 4,906 | 222,916 | [23] |
| 2014 | 3,733 | 23,357 | [24] |
| 2015 | 3,442 | 26,318 | [25] |
| 2016 | 5,572 | 122,517 | [26] |
| 2017 | 6,036 | 111,284 | [27] |
| 2018 | 7,092 | 467,424 | [28] |
| 2019 | 7,318 | 53,744 | [29] |
| 2020 | 6,716 | 744,120 | [30] |
| 2021 | 6,679 | 56,056 | [31] |
| 2022 | 8,370 | 56,403 | [32] |
| 2023 | 7,175 | 40,996 | [33] |
| 2024 | 8,541 | 36,207 | [34] |
| 5-year average | 6,273 | 95,342 | [34] |
Ten largest Colorado wildfires
As of August 2025, the 10 largest wildfires in Colorado have been:
| Name | County | Acres | Start date | Structures | Deaths | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Cameron Peak | Larimer | 208,913 | August 2020 | 469 | 6 | Burned over a span of 112 days.[35][36] All deaths occurred in post-fire flood events related to the fire. Four people died in 2021,[37] and two people died in 2022[38] from post-fire flash flood and debris flow events. |
| 2. | East Troublesome | Grand, Larimer | 193,812 | October 2020 | 555 | 2 | The 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.[39] |
| 3. | Pine Gulch | Mesa, Garfield | 139,007 | July 2020 | 1 | 0 | Briefly became the largest wildfire in Colorado history.[40] |
| 4. | Hayman | Douglas, Jefferson, Park, Teller | 138,114 | June 2002 | 600 | 6 | Held the title of the largest wildfire in Colorado for 18 years. Five deaths were firefighters who died in an accident en route to the fire.[41] |
| 5. | Lee Fire | Rio Blanco | 137,758 | August 2025 | 7 as of 11 August[42] | 0 | [43] |
| 6. | West Fork Complex | Hinsdale, Mineral | 109,615 | June 2013 | 0 | 0 | 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.[44] |
| 7. | Spring Creek | Costilla, Huerfano | 108,045 | June 2018 | 140 | 0 | [45] |
| 8. | High Park | Larimer | 87,415 | June 2012 | 259 | 1 | [46] |
| 9. | Missionary Ridge | La Plata | 73,000 | June 2002 | 47 | 1 | [47] |
| 10. | 416 | La Plata | 54,130 | June 2018 | 0 | 0 | [48] |
Ten most destructive Colorado wildfires
As of August 2025, the 10 most destructive wildfires in Colorado have been:
| Name | County | Acres | Start date | Total structures | Deaths | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Marshall | Boulder | 6,026 | December 2021 | 1,091 | 2 | 1,084 homes and 7 commercial buildings were destroyed, all within a 24-hour period beginning early on December 30.[49][50] |
| 2. | Hayman | Douglas, Jefferson, Park, Teller | 138,114 | June 2002 | 600 | 6 | Held the title of the largest wildfire in Colorado for 18 years. Five deaths were firefighters who died in an accident en route to the fire.[41] |
| 3. | East Troublesome | Grand, Larimer | 193,812 | October 2020 | 555 | 2 | The 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.[39] |
| 4. | Black Forest | El Paso | 14,280 | June 2013 | 489 | 2 | Was the most destructive fire in terms of number of homes lost until the Marshall Fire.[51] |
| 5. | Cameron Peak | Larimer | 208,913 | August 2020 | 469 | 6 | Burned over a span of 112 days.[35][36] All deaths occurred in post-fire flood events related to the fire. Four people died in 2021,[37] and two people died in 2022[38] from post-fire flash flood and debris flow events. |
| 6. | Waldo Canyon | El Paso | 18,247 | June 2012 | 346 | 2 | [52] |
| 7. | High Park | Larimer | 87,415 | June 2012 | 259 | 1 | [46] |
| 8. | Four Mile Canyon | Boulder | 5,700 | September 2010 | 162 | 0 | [53] |
| 9. | Spring Creek | Costilla, Huerfano | 108,045 | June 2018 | 140 | 0 | [45] |
| 10. | Iron Mountain | Fremont | 4,439 | June 2002 | 106 | 1 | [54] |
Colorado's deadliest wildfires (5+ deaths)
As of January 2025, these are all the wildfires that have resulted in five or more deaths in Colorado:
| Name | County | Acres | Start date | Total structures | Deaths | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | South Canyon | Garfield | 2,115 | July 1994 | 0 | 14 | All deaths were firefighters.[55] |
| 2. | Stable/Cheyenne Mountain | El Paso | Unknown* | January 1950 | 89 | 9 | *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.[56] |
| 3. | Cameron Peak | Larimer | 208,913 | August 2020 | 469 | 6 | Burned over a span of 112 days.[35][36] All deaths occurred in post-fire flood events related to the fire. Four people died in 2021,[37] and two people died in 2022[38] from post-fire flash flood and debris flow events. |
| 3. | Hayman | Douglas, Jefferson, Park, Teller | 138,114 | June 2002 | 600 | 6 | Held the title of the largest wildfire in Colorado for 18 years. Five deaths were firefighters who died in an accident en route to the fire.[41] |
