The 2026 Colorado wildfire season has included a significant number of wildfires in Colorado.
Background
While "fire season" varies every year in Colorado, most wildfires occur in between May and September. However, there is an increasing fire danger in winter months. Fire conditions can be exacerbated by drought, strong winds, and vegetation growth. Climate change is leading to increased temperatures, lower humidity levels, and drought conditions are happening more often. Additionally, warmer temperatures and less precipitation can result in less snowmelt, further contributing to bad wildfire conditions.
Colorado had one of its lowest snowpacks on record during the 2025-26 North American winter due to warm and dry conditions, particularly in the western part of the state. These conditions left Colorado more vulnerable to wildfires then usual.
During June 2026, multiple major wildfires sparked across the southern half of the state a few days after wildfires in Utah exploded in size and intensity, with the Aspen Acres Fire growing to be the largest in the state, and more favorable weather conditions have damage assessments ongoing across the area.
List of wildfires
The following is a list of fires that burned more than , produced significant structural damage, or resulted in casualties. NameCounty AcresStart dateContainment dateNotesRef.County Road 89Morgan, WeldCounty Road 169 Highway 24Elbert, LincolnDahlbergDouglas113LoganRange 121El PasoNineteenEl Paso24Pueblo, Fremont, El PasoClosed and prompted several evacuations near State Highway 115 for multiple days.SchwachheimLas AnimasBurned southeast of Trinidad.Highway 36YumaClosed Highway 36.HammerEl PasoPrompted evacuations for Hanover and closed schools in Hanover School District 28.Poitrey CanyonLas AnimasHuman-caused. Burned south of La Junta.FerrisMontezuma, DoloresMerged with Far Draw and Doe Canyon fires on June 28. Prompting evacuations for campgrounds northeast of Pleasant View over a time frame of several days. SnyderMesa, Grand (UT)Knowles Fire kills four helitack firefighters. The Knowles Fire soon merged with the Jones, Snyder Mesa, and Gore fires in Utah to form the combined Snyder FireGold MountainOuray June 27Burning 1.3 miles north of Ouray along U.S. Route 550, forced numerous evacuations as it grew to the north. Pilot Nicholas Dale dies on July 12 as his Kaman K-1200 helicopter crashes into Silver Jack Reservoir while fighting wildfire.WillowLakeJune 28Burning below Mount Massive, forced evacuations west of Leadville.Aspen AcresCuster, Pueblo, Huerfano June 29Burned across State Highway 78, threatening Colorado City, Beulah, and structures in several other evacuation zones, including in Fremont County. Destroyed over 850 structures including 319 homes.Sheep HeadHuerfanoBurned west of Sheep Mountain. Prompting pre-evacuations near State Highway 69 and Farisita.ElkGunnisonLightning–caused. Burning north of Lake City and prompting evacuations.P-L GulchRio BlancoHuman-caused. Burned southwest of Meeker and prompted evacuations.Big GulchMoffatUnknown cause. Burned northwest of Craig and causing power outages.KeystoneMoffat, Rio BlancoLightning-caused. Burned northwest of Meeker.Fuhr GulchMoffatLightning-caused. Burning in Craig. Destroyed two structures.Mt. CarmelBacaBurned in Campo. Forward progress stopped on July 24.Rio BlancoArchuletaLightning-caused. Burned south of Pagosa Springs and prompting evacuations.PostLas AnimasLightning-caused. Burning in Fishers Peak State Park and closing all trails in the park.
See also 2026 Utah wildfires 2026 Arizona Wildfires 2026 Idaho Wildfires List Of Colorado Wildfires
References