Close to the Flame

New research on Colorado forests challenges many of the old assumptions about the risks, severity and causes of the devastating wildfires of the past decade.

Work being done by scientists at Colorado State University and the University of Colorado Boulder could lead to important changes in how and when to prevent and fight severe fires in the future.

The effects of drought, warmer temperatures, pine beetle outbreaks, restoration and fire management practices all play a part in the current and future health of the state’s forests.

“All of the discussions have focused on the same old solutions: fire suppression, thin the…