Colorado Certified Burner Program

The Colorado Certified Burner program was developed to improve planning for prescribed burns on private land.

• Purpose: Train and certify groups so they plan and run prescribed fire in a more systematic and educated manner.
• Approach: Apply planning and training standards similar to those used by government natural resource and fire management agencies.
• Intended outcome: Encourage safer, more efficient use of fire as a tool, regardless of land ownership.
• Added benefit: Some civil liability protection for trained and certified participants.

See the Colorado Certified Burner Handbook for more information. Contact the Division for details about this program and upcoming Certified Burner Classes.

Resources

• 2025 Colorado Statewide Strategy for Prescribed Fire on Non-Federal Lands
• 2024 State of Colorado Prescribed Fire Guide
• Colorado Pile Construction Guide
• Pile Volume Calculator (download to edit)
• Colorado Certified Burner Handbook
• Prescribed Fire Go/No-Go Checklist
• Prescribed Fire Complexity Rating Checklist
• DFPC Burn Plan Template (Fillable PDF)
• Ignition Authorization
• Delegation of Authority
• Return of Delegation
• NWCG Prescribed Fire Summary and Final Complexity Worksheet
• Private Land Prescribed Fire Plan
• Local Jurisdiction & NGO Prescribed Fire Policy Requirements
• Colorado Air Pollution Control Division Open Burn/Slash Permit

Statutes and Rules

• C.R.S. 24-33.5-1217
• C.R.S. 24-33.5-1217.3
• C.R.S. 24-33.5-1217.5
• C.R.S. 24-33.5-1217.7
• DFPC Prescribed Fire Adopted Permanent Rules 8 CCR 1507-32
• Prescribed Burning in Colorado 8 CCR 1507-32 Rules

DFPC Fire Weather Dashboard

Trainings

• 2026 Winter Colorado Wildland Fire & Incident Management Academy (14 to 16 January, 2026 in Colorado Springs)

Prescribed Fire Management

• Prescribed Fire Management