Wildfire Preparedness in Colorado Mountain Towns

Disaster Preparedness in Colorado Mountain Towns: What Every Resident Needs to Know

Wildfire season in Colorado's mountain towns isn't a distant possibility anymore , it's something every household needs an actual plan for.

On this episode of Real Estate in the Rockies, Ashley Kappel and Jessica Chariton sit down with Andrea Carlstrom, Director of Chaffee County Public Health, to talk through what emergency preparedness really looks like behind the scenes, what belongs in a go kit, and the mistakes people make during an actual evacuation.

👉 Listen to Episode 5 here | 🎧 Also on Spotify / Apple Podcasts / YouTube

Quick Answer: How Do You Prepare for Wildfire Season in Chaffee County?

Sign up for Everbridge emergency alerts, build a go kit with medications, insurance documents, and supplies for several days, and make an evacuation plan that accounts for family members being apart when disaster strikes. As Andrea Carlstrom puts it, "the time to plan and prepare is not during a disaster." Chaffee County's main evacuation site is the Chaffee County Fairgrounds, and residents should also plan for reentry, not just evacuation , including what to do about spoiled food, animal intrusion, and smoke damage when returning home.

Public Health's Role in Wildfire Response

It might be surprising that a public health department leads wildfire preparedness, but Chaffee County Public Health holds a state contract for public health emergency preparedness and serves as the lead for ESF-8 (health and medical) within the county's incident command structure.

That means coordinating regularly with county emergency management, law enforcement, fire, EMS, Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center, schools, and regional partners in neighboring counties like Lake, Park, and Summit , building the relationships ahead of time so the response team isn't meeting each other for the first time during an actual emergency.

What Belongs in a Wildfire Go Kit

Carlstrom's core message: don't wait for an evacuation order to start preparing. A solid go kit should include:

• Prescription medications and a list of them

• Insurance information (homeowners, flood, fire , whatever applies to your property)

• Several days of clothing

• Non-perishable snacks and bottled water

• Flashlights and phone chargers

• Activities for kids (or adults) in case of a stressful shelter stay

• A USB drive or phone backup of important documents and photos of your home's contents

That last one matters more than people expect , having photos of your home before an event makes comparing damage after reentry much easier.

Why Evacuation Plans Need a Backup Plan

Disasters rarely happen when the whole family is conveniently home together. Carlstrom recommends planning for scenarios where household members are scattered , at work, at school, traveling , and agreeing in advance on where to meet, whether that's a friend's house or a public site like the Chaffee County Fairgrounds.

She also strongly recommends registering for Everbridge, the county's free emergency alert system, which pushes evacuation notices and updates via text, phone, or email directly from the sheriff's office.

Lessons From the Decker Fire

The Decker Fire is Chaffee County's clearest recent case study. Residents had enough advance warning to pack valuables and go kits before the fire crested a nearby ridge , but the event also revealed real gaps: well-meaning community members rushing toward the evacuation site to help actually complicated the response, and misinformation spreading on unofficial social media pages made it harder to keep residents informed.

Carlstrom's advice: follow official evacuation orders immediately rather than trying to "wait it out," and rely on a single verified source (in Decker Fire's case, a dedicated Facebook page) rather than ad hoc posts.

Wildfire Smoke Doesn't Respect County Lines

Even when there's no active fire in Chaffee County, wildfire smoke from states away can settle into the Arkansas Valley and trigger air quality concerns. Residents can check real-time conditions using the Purple Air Monitor network, which helps people who are high-risk decide when to limit outdoor exposure.

Protecting Vulnerable Neighbors

One of the more practical takeaways: households with older adults, hearing aids, or medical equipment may not hear an alert in the middle of the night. Chaffee County Public Health is working on an access and functional needs list so responders , often EMS , know in advance which residences may need direct assistance during an evacuation. HOAs can also play a role here by designating a point of contact to relay information to residents who might not have access to every communication channel.

Reentry Planning Is Just as Important as Evacuation

Most people focus entirely on getting out , but Carlstrom emphasizes that returning home after an evacuation brings its own challenges: smoke damage, spoiled food (especially from deep freezers if power was out), possible animal intrusion, and water concerns if a well was affected. She recommends keeping a simple reentry bucket on hand with water, baking soda, masks, and gloves.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Everbridge and how do I sign up? Everbridge is Chaffee County's free emergency alert system, run through the sheriff's office, which sends evacuation notices and updates via text, phone, or email. Residents can register through the county's emergency communications page.

What is Chaffee County's main evacuation site? The Chaffee County Fairgrounds is the county's primary evacuation meeting site, though specific instructions vary by incident.

What should be in a wildfire go kit? Prescription medications, insurance documents, several days of clothing, non-perishable snacks and water, flashlights, phone chargers, and backup copies of important documents and photos of your home's contents.

How can I check wildfire smoke and air quality in Chaffee County? The Purple Air Monitor network provides real-time local air quality data, useful for anyone at higher risk from smoke exposure.

What should I do when reentering my home after a wildfire evacuation? Prepare for smoke damage, spoiled food, potential animal intrusion, and water concerns. Keeping a reentry kit with water, baking soda, masks, and gloves on hand can help.

🎧 Hear the full conversation with Andrea Carlstrom on this episode of Real Estate in the Rockies , a real, practical look at what it takes to be ready before wildfire season hits.

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Learn more: chaffeecounty.org | Register for Everbridge | FEMA Preparedness Checklist | chaffeeresources.org

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