Gov. Jared Polis proclaimed May as Wildfire Awareness Month in Colorado to encourage residents to be ready for fire and prevent human-caused wildfires.
Wildfire is a part of nature in Colorado, but factors such as drought, high winds and warmer temperatures increase wildfire risk.
Additionally, more people are moving into wildfire-prone areas; just under half of all Coloradans live in the wildland-urban interface and are at risk of wildfire.
It is imperative that Coloradans who live in and around natural vegetation and are most at risk of wildfire take actions to prepare for wildfire.
On April 30, the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) released the 2026 Wildfire Preparedness Plan.
Colorado is entering the 2026 wildfire season with significant drought, low snowpack and higher temperatures.
As a modest green-up develops in spring, officials with DFPC predict normal fire potential in May.
However, June and July will likely experience above-normal fire potential across the Front Range and the Western Slope due to drought conditions and increasing heat stressing fuels. Additionally, the possibility of high wind events in eastern Colorado are concerning.
Even in an average fire season, thousands of wildfires have the potential to blow up and become destructive under the right conditions.
Practical actions to
reduce wildfire risk
During Wildfire Awareness Month, local, state and federal agencies, and nongovernmental organizations involved with wildfire safety and prevention will participate in the Live Wildfire Ready campaign.
We know wildfire mitigation works, and Coloradans can take simple, practical, relatively low-cost actions to prepare their homes and property for wildfire.
Insurance information
Reviewing your homeowners and auto insurance policies is one of the most important steps you can take prior to a wildfire happening. Check and see what’s covered and what isn’t in your policy.
Important aspects of your policy to consider include additional living expenses, replacement versus actual cash value and when your insurance kicks in during an evacuation.
Contact your insurance agent or insurance company for explanations if something is not clear. You can review the Post-Disaster Claims Guide at https://bit.ly/4un853f to help find answers about how to navigate insurance claims.
You can also contact Colorado’s Division of Insurance (DOI) with any questions about insurance, your policy, how things work, how to file a claim or how to contact your insurance company or insurance agent.
Contact the DOI Consumer Services team at (303) 894-7490, DORA_Insurance@state.co.us or doi.colorado.gov.
Visit the Division of Insurance’s Are You Disaster Ready? website for more insurance information.
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