Wildfire Emergency Preparation Colorado: Pre-Evacuation Checklist

If you are reading this with smoke on the horizon, skip straight to Mode 2: Fire in the Area. If you have time and want to prepare properly before fire season, start here. This guide covers all three situations Colorado homeowners face: fire season preparation, the 48–72 hour pre-evacuation window, and active evacuation — plus what to do when you return. High-risk areas in Colorado don't give second chances. Use this now.

Mode 1 Fire season is coming — what to do now

Colorado's fire season effectively runs May through October, but the highest-risk window is typically May through July before monsoon moisture arrives, and again in October when fall wind events return. If fire season hasn't peaked yet, you have a real opportunity to reduce your risk before you need to act in a panic.

Schedule a risk assessment before fire season starts

A professional wildfire risk assessment identifies the specific vulnerabilities on your property — Zone 0 fuel accumulation, vent screening gaps, deck combustibles, ladder fuels — and gives you a written action plan with prioritized steps. The best time to schedule is April or early May, before the summer backlog fills contractor calendars. Don't wait until fire news is on the evening broadcast.

Complete Zone 0 cleanup: the highest-impact hour you'll spend

Zone 0 is the immediate five feet around your home's entire footprint. Most homes that burn in wildfires are not engulfed by a wall of flame — they ignite from wind-blown embers landing in something combustible right against the structure. In Colorado's mountain and foothill communities, those embers can travel a mile or more ahead of the fire front.

Zone 0 actions that make the biggest difference:

• Replace bark or wood mulch against the foundation with rock, gravel, or pavers. Wood mulch is one of the most common ember-catch materials in Zone 0.
• Clear gutters of pine needles, leaves, and debris. A gutter full of dry needles is a runway for ember ignition.
• Move firewood stacks away from the house — at minimum 30 feet, ideally uphill (fire travels faster uphill than down). Never store firewood against the siding or under an eave.
• Sweep debris from roof valleys and any flat roof sections.
• Clear out from under decks and porches, which collect dry leaves and create shaded ember traps, and screen any open lattice or gaps.

Check and upgrade vents

Attic vents, crawl space vents, and soffit vents are among the most underrated wildfire vulnerabilities on a Colorado home. Embers enter vents and smolder inside structural cavities for minutes or hours before igniting. The fix is 1/16-inch metal mesh screening over existing vents — a relatively inexpensive home hardening step that closes a major ignition pathway. Check that existing screens have no tears, gaps, or corrosion.

Create a go-bag and plan your evacuation routes now

A go-bag is only useful if it exists before you need it. Pack it now and keep it in a place you can grab in under two minutes. More on what goes in a Colorado-specific go-bag in Mode 3.

Equally important: identify at least two evacuation routes out of your neighborhood. In mountain communities, roads can be narrow and there may only be one or two ways out. Know both, drive them before fire season, and know which direction each one takes you relative to likely fire approach (generally, don't evacuate toward a fire). Share your routes with your household and agree on a meeting point outside your immediate area in case you're separated.

Sign up for CO-ALERT

CO-ALERT is Colorado's emergency alert notification system. Sign up at coalt.gov using your address so you receive alerts specific to your location. This is how official evacuation orders, pre-evacuation notices, and re-entry clearances reach you. Many Colorado counties also have county-specific emergency notification systems — check with your county's Office of Emergency Management to see if you need to register separately. Also check our Colorado fire alerts resource page for additional options.

Create a home inventory for insurance

Walk through every room and take video or photos of your belongings, noting model numbers and approximate values for major items. Store this documentation in cloud backup (Google Photos, iCloud, Dropbox) or on a USB drive you keep in your go-bag — not only on your home computer. This documentation speeds up insurance claims dramatically and protects you against disputes over what was lost.

Talk to your insurer now — before you file a claim

Call your insurance agent during fire season preparation, not after a fire, to confirm: what your policy actually covers for wildfire damage, what documentation they require, whether your dwelling coverage is adequate for current construction costs in your area (many Colorado policies are underinsured due to construction cost increases), and whether you have additional living expenses (ALE) coverage. Colorado's mountainous communities have seen a wave of insurance non-renewals and coverage changes; now is the time to know where you stand.

Mode 2 Fire is in the area — 48–72 hour readiness

A fire is burning within 20–40 miles, or conditions are extreme and a nearby fire is growing. You may not have an evacuation order yet — but this is the moment to act, not wait. Many of the worst outcomes in Colorado wildfires happened because residents waited for an official order that left them little time to act safely.

Clear Zone 0 immediately

If you haven't done Zone 0 prep as part of fire season preparation, do it now. Move everything combustible away from the structure:

• Patio furniture: move cushions, chair pads, and fabric items inside. Move wooden furniture as far from the house as possible or inside if room allows.
• Door mats and welcome mats: remove all mats from doorsteps and porches. Fiber door mats are excellent ember catchers.
• Wood piles: move at least 30 feet from any structure if possible. If you can't move them, cover with a non-combustible tarp or metal cover.
• Propane tanks: move portable tanks (BBQ tanks, camp stove tanks) at least 10 feet from the house and place them on the side opposite the approaching fire if direction is known. Turn the valve off.
• Deck planters: remove plant pots, especially those with dry soil and dead plant material, from decks and stairs.
• Umbrellas and shade sails: take down and store or remove.

Close windows, doors, and vents

Close every window and exterior door — including the garage door. Close fireplace dampers and any manually operated vents. If you have attic turbine vents, close them if they have closeable blades. If you have time and wet towels available, stuff them into gaps around garage doors and door thresholds to reduce ember intrusion. Leave your doors unlocked so firefighters can access the structure if needed.

Prepare your roof and gutters

If you have hose access and time before an order is issued, wet down the roof and gutters thoroughly. Saturated wood and debris resists ember ignition. Fill gutters with water if possible. Note: this is a supplemental measure, not a substitute for clearing — wet debris still eventually dries. It buys time, not immunity.

Know where your shutoffs are

Before you leave, locate and note:

• Gas meter shutoff: the curb-side meter shutoff valve (requires a wrench — store one nearby). In high-risk situations, turn gas off at the meter.
• Main water shutoff: usually in the basement or crawl space mechanical room, or at the street-side curb box.
• Electrical panel location: you may be asked by authorities to shut off power before leaving.

If you're not sure where these are, find out now — not during an evacuation.

Photograph the property before you leave

Walk around the exterior and interior and take quick video or photos of the condition of your property. This protects your insurance claim if the property is damaged. Send the photos to cloud backup immediately. This takes five minutes and can matter enormously later.

Note on insurance and evacuation compliance

Most homeowners' insurance policies have provisions that can limit claims if you failed to follow an official evacuation order and your actions (or inaction) contributed to the loss. Follow evacuation orders. Even if you believe staying to defend is safer for your property, the risk to your life and your claim are both real.

Mode 3 Evacuation order is imminent or issued

Leave now — do not wait for the last possible moment

The single most important action in an active evacuation is leaving early. Roads jam fast in mountain communities where there may be one or two ways out. Smoke can reduce visibility to near zero in minutes. Embers traveling ahead of the fire front can ignite spots along your evacuation route. Every minute you spend waiting is a minute less you have to reach safety.

What to take — in order of priority

1. People and pets. Everyone out first. Do not leave pets behind.
2. Medications. A week's supply minimum, including prescription medications that cannot be easily replaced.
3. Documents. Passport, driver's license, birth certificates, Social Security cards, insurance declarations pages, any mortgage or deed documents. Keep these in a single folder or waterproof bag in your go-bag.
4. Devices and chargers. Phone, laptop, portable battery pack, charging cables.
5. Cash. If evacuation lasts days, electronic payments may be unavailable.
6. Go-bag. Clothing, toiletries, and any items packed in advance.
7. Irreplaceables. Hard drives with photos, heirlooms that fit. If it can't be replaced and fits in your car in under two minutes, take it.

Colorado-specific go-bag additions

Standard go-bag lists don't always account for Colorado's specific conditions:

• N95 masks (minimum 4 per person). Wildfire smoke inhalation at Colorado's altitude — typically 5,000–9,000 feet in most affected communities — is significantly more stressful on respiratory function than at sea level. Cloth masks and surgical masks are not adequate for heavy smoke. Rated N95 or P100 respirators matter.
• Extra water. Dehydration accelerates at altitude, and smoke further stresses the body. Two gallons per person minimum for a 72-hour evacuation.
• Warm layer and rain gear. Colorado mountain weather is unpredictable. Evacuating in summer doesn't mean you won't be cold in a shelter or car overnight at elevation.
• Cash in small bills. ATMs in evacuation zones and nearby towns frequently run out. Budget $200–$300 per adult in cash.
• Paper list of contacts. Phone numbers for family, your insurance agent, your vet (for pet records), and a friend or relative outside the region — written on paper, not just in your phone.

Notify someone of your route and destination

Before you leave, text or call someone outside the affected area with: your planned evacuation route (Route A and Route B), your intended destination (name and address of where you're going), and who is in your vehicle including pets. Check in with them when you arrive. This matters if communications go down and authorities need to know who is still unaccounted for.

Do not return until officially cleared

Re-entry before official clearance is dangerous and illegal. Underground hotspots can reignite for days or weeks. Utilities may be damaged in ways that are invisible until a failure occurs. Structural damage from fire is not always visible on the exterior. Colorado communities have also experienced post-fire debris flows on burned slopes during monsoon rains — an often-overlooked hazard that arrives weeks or months after the fire. Wait for official re-entry clearance from the incident command or county sheriff.

Post-fire return: what to do first

When you are officially cleared to return, move carefully and document everything.

• Document damage immediately. Walk the entire property with your phone recording video before you touch or move anything. Document every damaged structure, vehicle, fence, tree, and outbuilding. Upload immediately to cloud backup.
• Do not use utilities. Do not turn on gas, water, or electricity until they have been inspected by your utility provider. Gas lines can be compromised by ground heat; electrical systems may have melted insulation; water systems may have backflow contamination.
• Contact your insurer within 24 hours. Most policies require prompt notification of loss. Call your agent, file the claim, and confirm what emergency living expenses are covered under your additional living expenses (ALE) or loss of use provision.
• Watch for hotspots. Even days after a fire appears out, buried root systems, stumps, and soil organic matter can continue to burn underground. Do not assume a quiet-looking area is safe. Report smoke or heat to incident command before they conclude operations.
• Watch for post-fire mudslides and debris flows. This is one of Colorado's most dangerous and underappreciated secondary hazards. Burned slopes lose their vegetation and the soil's water absorption capacity. Summer monsoon rains, especially in July–September, can send debris flows down burned drainages at high speed, sometimes miles from the burn scar. Know the drainages above and near your property and monitor weather during and after monsoon season.

Pre-evacuation property checklist

Use this as your 30-minute walkthrough checklist when conditions deteriorate. If you complete everything here before leaving, you've done what you can for your property. Then go.

Colorado emergency resources

These are the official Colorado sources for wildfire alerts, evacuation orders, and preparation guidance:

• CO-ALERT: coalt.gov — Colorado's statewide emergency alert and notification system. Register your address to receive location-specific evacuation orders and warnings.
• Ready, Set, Go Colorado (Colorado State Patrol): a tiered evacuation readiness program that teaches homeowners to be ready to leave ("Ready"), set to go when the situation deteriorates ("Set"), and go immediately at any order ("Go"). Ask your local fire department if your county participates.
• Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS): csfs.colostate.edu — authoritative guidance on defensible space standards, the state tax credit, cost-share grants, and a directory of certified defensible space contractors in your area.
• Local fire department evacuation zone lookup: most Colorado county sheriff's offices and OEM offices publish real-time evacuation zone maps. Search "[your county] evacuation zone map" or check your county sheriff's website during an incident.
• Colorado Active Fires Map: firemitigationexperts.com/colorado-active-fires-map — our aggregated map of current active fires in Colorado.
• Colorado Fire Alerts: our full fire alerts resource page lists all alert systems, notification tools, and how to set them up.

Frequently asked questions