Colorado's Wildfire Burn Scars Now Face Flash Flood Danger

After a month of watching wildfires in Western Colorado, the summer monsoons are moving in over the Rockies. Communities from Grand Junction to Montrose have been praying for rain (not lightning), but below recent burn scars, heavy downpours can create a new kind of emergency.

The heat-damaged soil in a burn scar can’t absorb water like healthy ground can, meaning water races downhill, triggering dangerous flash floods, mudslides, and debris. Continue scrolling to learn more about burn scars on the Western Slope worth watching closely this summer.

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Colorado's Summer Monsoon Can Turn Burn Scars Into Flood Zones

If it were up to Colorado, we would welcome slow-moving summer monsoon rains over any place without a burn scar. Those places are becoming hard to avoid. New fires continue to start throughout the state, and when it rains, burn scars increase the risk of flash flooding and debris flows. Just last week, heavy rains over the Turner Gulch burn scar in Unaweep Canyon caused a flash flood warning in Mesa County.

Which Burn Scars To Watch in Western Colorado

Heavy rain over areas near last year’s Lee Fire near Meeker, the Deer Creek burn scar near Paradox, or the recent burn scar from the 30,000-acre Snyder Fire near Fruita can each result in flash. Burn scars from the South Rim fire at the Black Canyon, the fires at Gold Mountain, Ferris, Willow, and Aspen Acres, create an increased risk for areas below these scars. Colorado’s Burn Scar Flash Flood Matrix is managed by the National Weather Service and found here.

Five Simple Steps That Could Save Your Life Near Burn Scars

Colorado Burn Scars Face a Dangerous New Threat This Week — 1228213613 (Photo by Alex Edelman/Getty Images)

If even the possibility of heavy rain is in the forecast, you should avoid camping or visiting a drainage below a burn scar. Never drive through flooded roads, and if you do not receive emergency alerts for the county you live in, it’s worth considering. If you ever receive an evacuation notification for your area, leave immediately. Remember, flash flood waters can arrive even after it stops raining. Giving fast-moving water lots of space is one of the best ways to stay safe during Colorado's monsoon season.

LOOK: 25 Photos of Colorado's Gold Mountain Fire in the Cimarron Valley

Wildland firefighters continue working around the clock in some of Western Colorado's steepest and most rugged terrain as the Gold Mountain Fire burns through the Cimarron Range. These photos offer a closer look at the crews, aircraft, and challenging conditions that are part of the firefight.

UP NEXT: Ways To Improve Indoor Air Quality During Wildfire Smoke

Wildfire smoke can have both short and long-term impacts on your health. Here's what the EPA recommends when it comes to improving air quality during periods of heavy wildfire smoke in your region.

Gallery Credit: Lauren Wells

MORE: 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

Source: Colorado Burn Scars Face a Dangerous New Threat This Week

Filed Under: Colorado Wildfires, Grand Junction Colorado

Categories: Colorado Local, Colorado News