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2025 Colorado Statewide Strategy for Prescribed Fire on Non-Federal Lands:
This Statewide Strategy for Prescribed Fire is the product of two years of collaborative work by
stakeholders from across Colorado. It began as one idea among many for ways the Colorado
Fire Commission could advance the conversation and effort around prescribed fire in our state.
It became the priority work item for the Commission’s Prescribed Fire Subcommittee, resulting
in hours upon hours of research, conversation, workshopping, and writing. It represents the
wisdom and ambition of prescribed fire professionals and government agencies at all levels
throughout the state.Through discussion with professionals around the state, the Prescribed Fire Subcommittee
identified several primary barriers to increasing the pace and scale of prescribed fire in our
state: 1) unclear and difficult-to-obtain liability protection for burners; 2) lack of investment in
training and certification; 3) a complex and time-consuming permitting landscape; 4) lack of
administrative and financial infrastructure for implementation of coordinated treatment
projects with partners; 5) insufficient attention to public and political outreach to build
understanding and support for prescribed fire; and 6) funding to create and sustain the
expertise, partnerships, and systems for prescribed fire that Colorado will need into the future.This document identifies 21 total strategies to address these six barriers, offering 9
opportunities for legislative intervention and assistance and 12 opportunities for
administrative implementation in the Division of Fire Prevention and Control, the Colorado
State Forest Service, and the Colorado Department of Natural Resources.2023 Colorado Fire Service Retention and Recruitment Survey Report
