July 22, 2026 | Hunter Freeman

Wildfire has become a year-round concern in Colorado. Although fire districts are most involved in these incidents, every special district has a role to play in protecting their staff, maintaining essential services, and supporting their community. 

Wildfires can disrupt operations through direct fire damage, power outages, road closures, poor air quality, communication failures, and employee displacement. Planning before an emergency occurs can significantly reduce these impacts. 

Preparedness starts long before fire season begins. Important questions to ask include: 

• Which facilities are essential to maintaining services? 
• How would extended power outages affect operations? 
• Are emergency generators tested and adequately fueled? 
• Could employees continue working if primary facilities became inaccessible? 
• Are important records securely backed up? 

These questions tie directly into Business Continuity Planning, one of the many areas where the CSD Pool team can assist in developing your plan. 

Before a fire hits, ensure your facility is prepared by maintaining a defensible space around your building. The space directly next to your facility is where hazards are highest, and this area should be maintained as much as possible. Additional steps include removing dead vegetation and ladder fuels (which allow flames to climb), cleaning roofs and gutters, and inspecting for any ember entry points and adding mesh where applicable. 

If fires are in your area, ensure you have primary and alternate evacuation routes available, as well as assembly areas and emergency communications. These are critical times to maintain accountability of all employees and visitors in case the fire spreads. Remember— equipment can be replaced but lives cannot. 

Smoke can be a hazard even when flames are miles away. When air quality is poor, ensure strenuous outdoor work is limited, air is filtered, and necessary precautions are taken. 

If fire does strike your facility, ensure you conduct a thorough damage assessment and document any damage thoroughly. Priorities include restoring critical services and supporting employee wellbeing. Once the dust settles, ensure after-action reviews are complete and emergency plans are updated accordingly with any lessons learned. 

If you would like to discuss business continuity planning or would like to speak to an underwriter about your coverage options, reach out to us at csdpool.org/connect.  

Wildfire Preparedness Resources 

Colorado Resources 

• https://csfs.colostate.edu/live-wildfire-ready/ 
• https://csfs.colostate.edu/wildfire-mitigation/ 
• https://extension.colostate.edu/topic/emergency-planning/ 

Federal Resources 

• https://www.ready.gov/wildfires 
• https://preptoolkit.fema.gov/web/em-toolkits/wildfire-evacuation 
• https://www.nifc.gov 
• https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire