PHOTOS: Despite being a landlocked state, Colorado is home to plenty of natural disasters. We pretty much have everything except hurricanes. Even then, our weather can be affected by hurricanes around the U.S. Out of all the natural disasters that hit Colorado, wildfires cause more damage than most. They affect our homes and neighborhoods, wildlife, forests, and tourism.
That’s not saying the others don’t cause their fair share of turmoil; we’re just focusing on wildfires in this case. There are many causes of wildfires. Sadly, the main cause of wildfires in Colorado is human activity. According to the United States Forest Service, anywhere between 60 and 85% of all wildfires are caused by humans. This could be from campfires, equipment sparks, smoking, or burning debris. This also includes utility-related including powerlines, transformers, and equipment failures.
Another major contributor to wildfires is lightning. The Colorado State Forest Service states that 15 to 40% of fires are caused by weather-related issues. 2 to 10% of fires can be attributed to intentional ignitions, also known as arson. However, this is likely underreported due to weak investigations.
