Colorado expects "normal" fire season, new report shows

• "Today, it's more a question about when, not if, a fire will affect our communities," Gov. Jared Polis said at a briefing Thursday in Broomfield.
• "Some will get big, and we're going to be busy," warned Stan Hilkey, director of public safety.

The big picture: Fire season is year-round in Colorado, as evidenced by the Marshall Fire that erupted in December 2021 and became the most devastating blaze in state history.

• In its wake, the state bolstered its wildfire fighting arsenal, prioritizing prevention and mitigation efforts, as well as adding two firehawk helicopters to attack blazes, the second of which is set to debut this August.

What they're saying: "We are ready for this fire season," Hilkey said.

Between the lines: The massive layoffs and budget cuts at the federal level are not expected to affect Colorado firefighting, authorities said, and they plan to hire the same number of firefighters as in previous years.

Stunning stat: 90% of wildfires are human-caused, prompting authorities to ask residents for prevention help through mitigation efforts, such as clearing brush, hardening roofs and home ventilation.

What we're watching: The highest risks for wildfires are currently in southeastern Colorado, but that's expected to shift to the southwestern region this summer after a winter with lower-than-average snowpack will lead to drought conditions.