06/09/2026
It seems a forgone conclusion, but our wildfire danger has risen to HIGH as of today. This is a couple of weeks earlier than typical but nothing unexpected in this, the driest of years. That said, warm temperatures, high winds and plunging relative humidity means that we all need to be extra vigilant with fire and sources of flame and heat. Wildfires are likely, and unattended brush or campfires can easily escape. Under these conditions, fine fuels like grasses and dry leaves ignite readily, and fires in continuous vegetation can be difficult to control, especially if high winds are present. Please use good judgment, and if it's windy out, it's best to postpone enjoying a campfire in the woods. Do not take risks!
Meanwhile, firefighters from both Summit Fire & EMS and Red, White & Blue Fire have begun their week of annual wildland-urban interface field training for wildfire response and initial attack. This time, crews are focusing on structure triage -- evaluating what, if any mitigation can be completed in the short time before a fire approaches homes -- and ordering up resources from our local, regional and federal partners. Using pictograph-laden placards, the teams look at how structures are vulnerable to wildfire -- chiefly vegetation and other "fuel" that can carry fire right to the decks and wood siding and, in the case of tall trees, the roofs of homes. This is one of those times when you want all "A's" on your report card before the test occurs. A common theme found: Wild, natural, untamed grasses, sage and brush intruding on the five-foot zone immediately around homes. This extremely "flashy" fuel burns very quickly and intensely, and an hour of weed-whacking can make all the difference in whether your home survives or not.
Notably, the exercises are taking place in Hamilton Creek at the north end of Silverthorne, a neighborhood that is one of our most recent to gain Firewise designation thanks in great part to a very active wildfire committee and big mitigation efforts, and one that also was evacuated partially during the 2021 Ptarmigan wildfire. We appreciate the welcome the neighborhood has given us!
