2022 Colorado wildfires

2022 Colorado wildfires
Statistics [1]
Total fires	8,370
Total area	56,403 acres (22,825 ha)
Impacts
Deaths	3
Non-fatal injuries	6
Structures destroyed	1,084
Damage	Unknown
Season
←  2021 2023  →

The 2022 Colorado wildfire season was a series of wildfires that burned throughout the U.S. state of Colorado.

Background

Main article: List of Colorado wildfires

While "fire season" varies every year based on different weather conditions, most wildfires occur between May and September with a fire risk year-round with an increasing danger during winter. Drought and decreasing snowpack levels and lowering snowmelt and runoff increase fire risk. These conditions, along with increased temperatures and decreased humidity, are becoming more common from climate change. Vegetation growth provides an ample fuel for fires. From 2011 to 2020, Colorado experiences an average of 5,618 wildfires each year that collectively burn about 237,500 acres (96,100 ha). ^[2]

List of wildfires

The following is a list of fires that burned more than 1,000 acres (400 ha), or produced significant structural damage or casualties.

Name	County	Acres	Start date	Containment date [a]	Notes	Ref
Marshall Fire	Boulder	6,200	December 30, 2021	January 1, 2022	Unknown cause. Killed two and destroyed 1,084 structures, becoming the most destructive fire in Colorado history. Started in 2021 but was contained in 2022.	[4]
High Park Fire	Teller	1,572	May 12, 2022	May 24, 2022	Unknown cause.	[5]

See also

• Colorado State Forest Service
• List of Colorado wildfires
• 2022 New Mexico wildfires

Notes

1. Containment means that fire crews have established and secured control lines around the fire's perimeter. These lines are artificial barriers, like trenches or cleared vegetation, designed to stop the fire's spread, or natural barriers like rivers. Containment reflects progress in managing the fire but does not necessarily mean the fire is starved of fuel, under control, or put out. ^[3]

References

1. "2022 RMACC Annual Report" (PDF). gacc.nifc.gov. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
2. "Colorado Fire Season: In-Depth Guide". wfca.com. Western Fire Chiefs Association. June 6, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
3. "What containment and other wildfire related terms mean". Los Angeles: KCAL-TV. September 12, 2024. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
4. Sullivan, Becky (January 1, 2022). "Snow puts out Colorado wildfires with 3 people missing and nearly 1,000 homes burned". NPR. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
5. Schmidt, Annika (May 24, 2022). "High Park fire 100% contained, officials say". The Gazette. Retrieved July 30, 2024.