Wildfires are a natural occurrence in Boulder County, happening anywhere and anytime. In fact, there have been fires recorded every month of the year in locations that span the entire county.
Lightning is the most common natural cause of wildfires in Boulder County. As development and recreation increase, human behavior takes on an increasing role in wildfire ignition, currently accounting for close to 90 percent of all ignitions within the county. These origins include:
Accidental: Sparks from machinery, prescribed and agricultural burns, equipment malfunctions
Carelessness: Campfires, cigarretes, or fireworks
Purposeful: Arson and other malicious intent
Visit the Mitigation Basics resource section to discover the Why’s, How’s, and When’s.