What Causes Wildfires?

Wildfires can occur naturally or be triggered by humans. Research from Jennifer Balch of the University of Colorado Earth Lab has shown that humans are responsible for starting 84% of wildfires. The most common causes of human-induced fires are intentional acts of arson, campfires, debris burning, and discarded cigarettes.

Humans also increase the prevalence of wildfires indirectly through climate change. Warmer, drier conditions from climate change lead to drought. Specifically, spring is coming sooner, making mountain snow melt earlier and increasing the likelihood of drought later in the summer. These droughts make vegetation drier and a better fuel source for fire. A drier climate also leads to more lightening, which is the most common non-human source of fires.

Wildfires can be both devastating and rejuvenating for the environment. While they cause destruction, many ecosystems depend on them. They perform critical ecological tasks like facilitating vegetation growth and removing non-native species. When humans actively try to prevent natural fires, it can lead to larger fires due to fuel buildup.

Wildfire in the US

Many fires have extreme impacts on humans. The deadliest fire in U.S. history was the Peshtigo Fire in northeastern Wisconsin in 1871. It killed about 2,500 people and burned 1.2 million acres of land. While the entire western U.S. is prone to wildfires, California is particularly vulnerable due to frequent droughts and coastal winds.

One of the most destructive blazes in the world in recent history was the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, California in October 2003, killing 14 people, destroying 2,280 buildings, and burning 280,000 acres of land. The most destructive in Colorado was the Fourmile Canyon Fire in September 2010, which destroyed 168 homes and led to $217 million in insurance claims.

About the Cold Springs Fire

The Cold Springs wildfire was first reported on July 9, 2016 along Hurricane Hill, approximately two miles northeast of Nederland, Colorado.

The human-started wildfire was officially extinguished on July 14, 2016. It burned a total of 528 acres of land, 430 acres on privately owned land and 98 on US Forest Service property. Eight homes were lost.

The cause of the Cold Springs wildfire has been attributed to a campfire that was not properly extinguished during a county-wide fire ban. Two transient men from Alabama were charged with fourth-degree arson. They were sentenced with two years of work release to be followed by four years of probation and must pay restitution of up to 1.25 million dollars.

Impacts of the Cold Springs Fire

In addition to the homes that were destroyed, the Cold Springs Fire had significant impacts on those close to it. Due to the proximity to the town of Nederland, nearly 2,000 people were forced to evacuate. At the height of the fire, officials drafted plans to evacuate residents as far east as Boulder.