Teller County Releases Updated Wildfire Preparedness Plan for 2026 Season
Teller County Emergency Management has released its updated Community Wildfire Protection Plan ahead of what forecasters predict could be an above-average fire season across the Front Range. The plan, revised for the first time since 2022, incorporates lessons learned from recent fire events and introduces new evacuation routes, expanded defensible space requirements, and a countywide alert system upgrade.
Emergency Manager Tom Veltri said the updated plan reflects the growing wildfire risk driven by drought conditions, beetle-killed timber, and continued development in the wildland-urban interface. Key changes include mandatory 100-foot defensible space zones for new construction, pre-positioned firefighting resources at four strategic locations throughout the county, and a new real-time evacuation mapping tool accessible through the county's mobile app.
The county has also invested $2.4 million in fuel mitigation projects over the past year, clearing 800 acres of dead timber and creating firebreaks around the communities of Woodland Park, Divide, Florissant, and Cripple Creek. Fire Chief Andrew Ross noted that the mitigation work has significantly reduced fuel loads in the highest-risk areas, but emphasized that individual property owners must also maintain their defensible space.
Community wildfire preparedness meetings are scheduled throughout April and May in Woodland Park, Cripple Creek, and Florissant. Residents can also schedule free property assessments through the county's FireWise program. The National Weather Service's seasonal outlook indicates above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation for the Pikes Peak region through September, conditions that typically increase wildfire risk.