Grand Junction, Colorado — As bone-dry conditions grip the state and wildfire danger hits extreme levels, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has rolled out its most aggressive roadside fuel-reduction program yet, racing to clear flammable grass and brush from hundreds of miles of highways before the next spark flies.
The work is urgent. State fire officials say nearly 30 percent of Colorado wildfires start within 100 feet of roads, often from something as simple as a dragged trailer chain or a flicked cigarette. With temperatures soaring and humidity plummeting, CDOT crews are now mowing, chipping, and removing vegetation in the exact places most likely to ignite.
Where the Work Is Happening Right Now
Crews are prioritizing corridors ranked “very high” or “extreme” risk by the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control. That list includes long stretches of Interstate 70 through the mountains, Highway 50 west of Gunnison, Highway 285 over Kenosha Pass, and multiple routes on the Western Slope.
In Mesa County alone, crews have already cleared more than 120 miles of roadside this summer. Similar work is underway in Eagle, Summit, Garfield, Pitkin, and Park counties — areas that saw devastating fires in 2020 and 2021.
CDOT says the goal is to create defensible space along rights-of-way so a small roadside fire cannot jump into timber or neighborhoods.
Why Roadsides Are Such a Dangerous Spark Point
Data from the Colorado State Forest Service shows vehicles and equipment start roughly 400 wildfires a year in the state. Hot exhaust, catalytic converters, dragging chains, parking on dry grass, and discarded cigarettes top the list of causes.
One spark can travel fast. Dry cheatgrass — now abundant along many highways because of back-to-back wet springs followed by drought — can carry fire at speeds up to 6 miles per hour.
“People don’t realize how quickly a tiny spark turns into a monster when conditions are this dry,” said CDOT maintenance superintendent Travis Bailey. “We’re trying to remove the fuse before someone lights it.”
What Drivers Can Do — Simple Steps That Save Lives
CDOT is pleading with the public to help. The agency released this short checklist that every driver and passenger should follow right now:
- Never throw cigarettes or anything burning from a vehicle
- Make sure trailer safety chains are secured and not dragging
- Avoid parking or stopping on dry grass — hot catalytic converters start fires in seconds
- Pull only into established parking areas or bare pavement if you need to stop
- Carry a small shovel and water bottle in case you spot a new fire start
Every single human-caused fire is preventable, state officials keep repeating.
Bigger Picture: A State on Edge
Colorado is on pace for another brutal fire year. As of mid-July, more than 650,000 acres have burned nationwide, and the Alexander Mountain Fire west of Loveland earlier this month showed how fast things can get out of control. That blaze started along Highway 34 and forced thousands to evacuate within hours.
CDOT’s accelerated mitigation is funded in part by a $25 million wildfire-resiliency package passed by the legislature in 2023. The money pays for extra crews, masticators, and chippers working seven days a week in some areas.
Residents near cleared highways have noticed. “I feel a lot better seeing them out there cutting all that dead grass,” said Loveland Pass resident Maria Sanchez. “Last thing we need is another fire running up the canyon because of a blown tire or something.”
The work will continue through October or until snow flies, whichever comes first. CDOT says it will return next spring to finish any sections that still pose a threat.
Colorado’s highways carry millions of residents and visitors through some of the most fire-prone landscapes in America. This summer, the thin green strip along the asphalt has become the first line of defense.
What do you think — have you noticed CDOT crews working near your daily drive? Are you taking extra precautions on the road this season? Drop your thoughts in the comments below, and if you’re sharing on social, use #ColoradoFireWise so we can keep the conversation going.
