Living with wildfire in Lake County, Colorado: 2023 Data report

Research Note
By: , and 

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Abstract

Homeowner wildfire risk mitigation and preparedness are important components of community wildfire readiness. This report describes the data collected through two efforts conducted in the Lake County, Colorado, study area: (1) parcel-level rapid wildfire risk assessments performed by trained assessors and (2) homeowner surveys in which respondents provided self-assessments of their parcel-level wildfire risk. This project was undertaken to support Colorado State Forest Service Salida Field Office and Leadville/Lake County Fire-Rescue. The household surveys explored the social dimensions of wildfire, including understanding of wildfire risk, outreach or communication preferences, mitigation and evacuation preparedness activities, and perceptions of community risk reduction strategies. Overall, the study results detail a community that was engaged in preparing for and mitigating the risk of wildfire while revealing more that could be done to reduce risk.

Suggested Citation

Donovan, C., Brenkert-Smith, H., Wittenbrink, S., Champ, P.A., Shaver, J.T., McCann, D., Taniguchi, C., Meldrum, J.R., Barth, C.M., Wagner, C., and Kuehn, J., 2026, Living with wildfire in Lake County, Colorado: 2023 Data report: Research Note, vi, 144 p., https://doi.org/10.2737/RMRS-RN-113.

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype Federal Government Series
Title Living with wildfire in Lake County, Colorado: 2023 Data report
Series title Research Note
DOI 10.2737/RMRS-RN-113
Publication Date March 01, 2026
Year Published 2026
Language English
Publisher USDA Forest Service
Contributing office(s) Fort Collins Science Center
Description vi, 144 p.
Country United States
State Colorado
County Lake County
Additional publication details