Colorado’s Fire Season Is Starting RIght Now: That Should Worry You

If reading about wildfires in Colorado in March makes you stop in your tracks, it should. The “24 Fire,” near Colorado Springs, has exploded to more than 4,600 acres, fueled by dry grass, high winds, and unseasonably warm temperatures.

Conditions have lined up weeks in advance and could signal a long, dangerous fire season ahead. Here’s a look at where Colorado’s wildfires are as we head into April.

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What’s Happening Right Now—and Why It’s Starting So Early

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When the list of wildfires is already this long in March, everybody starts to get nervous. Multiple fires are already burning, and everyone spending time in the outdoors is going to have to be very careful this summer and hold each other accountable for fire safety.

Below are the Colorado fires that have burned at least 1000 acres so far in 2026:

• “24 Fire” (Fort Carson / Colorado Springs area): This fire has grown to over 7,300 acres since last Wednesday.
• “23 Fire” (Southern Colorado / Colorado Springs area). Tap the link for a look at the video.
• "Range 121 Fire" (El Paso County – Colorado Springs area). This fire is also burning in El Paso County at over 1000 acres, and is contained.
• "County Road 89" (Morgan & Weld Counties). This fire burned about 1090 acres in February and is contained.
• "County Road 169 Fire" (Elbert & Lincoln Counties). The fire started on February 17, burning over 6000 acres between the two counties, and is contained.
• "Dahlberg Fire" (Douglas County). This fire burned 1,080 acres near Dahlberg Rd & Lake Gulch Rd, in Franktown, and is contained.
• "113 Fire" (Locan County). This fire burned over 5000 acres from February 25 to 26, and is now contained.

Why Experts Are Concerned—and What It Means for Western Colorado

Wildfires in March mean conditions are ideal for wildfires right now, and this means the 2026 wildfire season could be considerably longer than previous years, using up resources and manpower even faster, and for extended periods of time. In just a couple of weeks, 5 wildfires have burned a combined total of about 15,000 acres already in 2026. Nationwide, more than 1.4 million acres have already burned. That is double the average for this time of year, which only raises concerns. It means everyone must use extreme caution this spring and summer around open flames.

The Bigger Picture—Is This the New Normal?

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An almost unnoticeable winter season, early snowmelt (dismal snowpack), and long dry spells are reshaping wildfire patterns across the West, pushing fire season earlier and extending it later in the year. If we keep seeing the winter months pass by without snow in the Rockies, wildfires in March could be far more common in the Centennial State.