Vail, CO
Home MenuBooth Creek Prescribed Burn Video
Vail Fire is actively working to reduce wildfire risk and improve the natural environment that our community depends on. This video shows some of the beneficial outcomes of a project recently completed in the East Vail, Booth Creek neighborhood.
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Wildland
Wildfires have long shaped the forests and grasslands around the Town of Vail. While they may seem purely destructive, wildfires are a natural and essential part of maintaining a healthy ecosystem. Many plants and animals in this region have adapted not just to survive, but to thrive in the presence of fire.
In Vail’s high-elevation forests, large wildfires are rare. Historically, a few small fires would occur each summer, with a major wildfire only happening every 150 to 250 years. Because these large fires are so infrequent, they often have an abundance of vegetation to burn, allowing them to spread across thousands of acres and last for weeks or even months.
Despite their intensity, large wildfires mark the beginning of renewal. After the flames pass, new grasses and trees emerge, creating fresh habitat for wildlife and helping to regenerate healthy forests and open landscapes. This cycle is natural, and the ecosystem has adapted to it over time—now, so must the Town of Vail.
To prepare for the inevitable, the Town of Vail is taking proactive steps to become a “Fire Adapted Community.” We understand that wildfire will impact us in the future, and the time to prepare is now. By working together, we can help ensure both our forests and our community remain resilient in the face of wildfire.
We all have a part to play in ensuring we are ready for wildfire.
In Vail’s high-elevation forests, large wildfires are rare. Historically, a few small fires would occur each summer, with a major wildfire only happening every 150 to 250 years. Because these large fires are so infrequent, they often have an abundance of vegetation to burn, allowing them to spread across thousands of acres and last for weeks or even months.
Despite their intensity, large wildfires mark the beginning of renewal. After the flames pass, new grasses and trees emerge, creating fresh habitat for wildlife and helping to regenerate healthy forests and open landscapes. This cycle is natural, and the ecosystem has adapted to it over time—now, so must the Town of Vail.
To prepare for the inevitable, the Town of Vail is taking proactive steps to become a “Fire Adapted Community.” We understand that wildfire will impact us in the future, and the time to prepare is now. By working together, we can help ensure both our forests and our community remain resilient in the face of wildfire.
We all have a part to play in ensuring we are ready for wildfire.