In 2002, the Million Fire burned 9,346 acres near South Fork, CO, costing $9.8 million in firefighting costs. In 2013, the same area was struck by the West Fork Fire Complex, which burned over 109,049 acres of the San Juan and Rio Grande National Forests and cost over $31 million. Five and 16 years later, we are bringing together communities, land managers, and scientists from both sides of the continental divide to reflect on the Million and West Fork fires, discuss post-burn treatments and changes to the landscape, and think about the future of our communities and forests.

Join us from 5:00 – 8:00 pm on September 7 for FREE FOOD, BEER and Conversation at the Wolf Creek Ski Area sponsored by Pagosa Brewing, Three Barrel Brewing, and the Wolf Creek Ski Area.

On September 8, from 9:00am to 3:00pm, we will tour important burn areas with resource specialists, emergency responders, community members and land managers. We will meet at the South Fork Visitor Center, organize into vans, and drive to diverse burn areas to talk about the effects of the fire, how the burn area is recovering, and how communities are adapting. Lunch will be provided by the San Juan Headwaters Forest Health Partnership and Firewise of Southwest Colorado. Wear appropriate shoes, be prepared for weather, and if you have a hard hat, please bring it along.

Although FREE, registration is required for both events so that we can make sure to have enough food. Register HERE. 

To watch a video series on the West Fork Fire Complex created by the Southern Rockies Fire Science Network, go here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOlnrjuc1WQ&list=PLCT5u82jYZ5wgFPeOZeioE75fRRCNkVXu

This event is hosted by the San Juan and Rio Grande National Forests, Firewise of Southwest Colorado, the Southern Rockies Fire Science Network, San Juan Headwaters Forest Health Partnership, Colorado State Forest Service, Mountain Studies Institute, and Wolf Creek Ski Area.