Colorado’s wet spring caused rapid growth of grasses and shrubs, which can quickly dry out and become fuel for fire as it heats up across the state. So even with a record-setting wet May, Colorado is looking at the possibility of significant fires this year.
In drought-ridden states across the West, this year’s wildfire season is even more daunting. The U.S. Forest Service continues to worry about having enough funds to fight wildfire. Borrowing funds from proactive wildfire mitigation programs to fight fires has become routine. This practice reduces the West’s resiliency to fire and ability to implement programs that improve long-term forest health. Policy fixes have been proposed but have yet to pass.
Read Colorado Public Radio’s story Heavy Wildfire Season May Drain Federal Budget; Reform Sought
Read the Denver Post’s story Feds prep for late but potentially big wildfires, urge funding fix