What To Know About Colorado's 2026 Wildfire Preparedness Plans

It seems like all corners of Colorado are starting to feel a little uneasy about the 2026 wildfire season in the Centennial State. Wildfire season has arrived earlier than last year and is already hitting harder with multiple fires burning on the Front Range.

This is why officials on the Western Slope are already encouraging residents to sign up for their local emergency alert system before the smoke is in the air. Grand Junction, Delta, and Montrose alert systems are designed to deliver real-time warnings about wildfires and evacuations directly to your phone, helping you act fast when it matters most.

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Why This Matters Right Now in Western Colorado

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When a wildfire sparks near your neighborhood, scrolling Facebook isn’t a reliable safety plan. Wildfire risk in Colorado needs to be top of mind much sooner than most years. Some counties in our state are already considering implementing standing fire restrictions for the summer.

State officials are emphasizing preparedness ahead of the peak season. With the fast-moving fires already burning, the extra insurance of a reliable alert system seems like a critical early step in staying safe on the Western Slope.

What the System Does and How You’ll Get Alerts

The alert system in Mesa County sends real-time, location-based notifications for wildfires, evacuations, and other emergencies via text, phone calls, and email. Emergency alerts for Mesa County are delivered via Grand Junction's Regional Communication Center. You can customize these alerts for multiple locations (home, work, school) to ensure you receive relevant updates wherever you are.

“Set It and Forget It” Could Save Your Life

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Once you have signed up for the alerts you wish to receive, they become automatic. You do not need to keep checking apps or scrolling social media. You can have alerts sent for emergencies, including wildfires, evacuation orders, hazardous incidents, and major disruptions, giving residents immediate, actionable information when every second counts.

LOOK: Colorado Wildfire Damage by Year, Number of Fires + Acres Burned

Colorado has seen its fair share of wildfires over the years, but the numbers really start to tell the story when you look at them year by year.

From just a few thousand acres burned in the '90s to massive jumps in the 2000s, it’s clear something has changed.

We dug into the data to see which years were the worst and how things have shifted across the state.

Gallery Credit: Tim Gray

NEXT: Colorado's Marshall Fire Pet Memorial

As pets are much like members of the family, the memorial is very sweet and sad at the same time.

Gallery Credit: Dave Jensen

Exploring the History of Grand Junction, Colorado: From Frontier Town to Small City

If you came to western Colorado in 1880, you probably never would have guessed how the valley would look in 2023. Check out a timeline of significant events that brought Grand Junction from the frontier to a small city from 1880 to 1900.

Gallery Credit: Wes Adams

Source: Western Colorado Wildfire Season: Sign Up for County Alerts Now