Colorado’s 3 Largest Fires Ever Have Come in 2020
2020 has already been a year unlike any other with the global COVID-19 pandemic. In Colorado, fires across the state have been an exclamation point on a challenging year.
Drought conditions throughout the state have allowed fires to spread like, well, wildfires.
Colorado's three largest fires ever recorded have come in 2020.
The Pine Gulch Fire briefly became the state's largest when it hit 139,007 acres. The Cameron Peak Fire eventually surpassed that and became the first in the state to be burning above 200,000 acres earlier this month.
The East Troublesome Fire then ignited and quickly shot up the history books while forcing the town of Estes Park to evacuate.
To add a cherry on top of 2020, Wyoming's Mullen Fire burning over 176,878 acres spread into Colorado and impacted air quality throughout Northern Colorado and the front range.
Before 2020, the 2002 Hayman Fire held the record for Colorado's largest at 137,760 acres.
LARGEST COLORADO FIRES IN HISTORY
- 2020 Cameron Peak Fire 206,977 acres
- 2020 East Troublesome Fire 170,163 acres
- 2020 Pine Gulch Fire 139,007 acres
- 2002 Hayman Fire 137,760 acres
- 2013 West Fork Complex Fire 108,045 acres
- 2012 High Park Fire 87,250 acres
*Acreage numbers as of Oct. 23, 2020
Anyone else think 2021 can't get here soon enough?
How The 2020 Cameron Peak Fire Has Grown