Everything's on Fire and it's (Sometimes) OK: Wildfire Mitigation Policy in the Front Range

Wildfires pose a significant threat to communities and ecosystems, and effective policy measures are necessary to mitigate their impact. My thesis examines current policies and potential solutions to address the increasing wildfire risk, particularly as climate change worsens and makes the conditions for the perfect firestorm more common. My research question centers on whether the use of prescribed burns is an effective wildfire mitigation policy, focusing on Boulder County, in the Front Range of Colorado. Using a mixedmethods approach of both Geographic Imaging Service (GIS) data and interviews with firefighters, I explore the trends in fire conditions, and whether prescribed burns are effective and/or safe. I also touch on the potential benefits of incorporating Indigenous knowledge and practices into wildfire management policy. My findings suggest that prescribed burns, as they are currently employed, are largely ineffective, due to the increasing occurrence and severity of fire weather and decreasing public support. I recommend that there must be collaboration between government agencies, Indigenous communities, private industry, and individual homeowners. Only with the incorporation of Indigenous knowledge, innovative technology, and public education campaigns, alongside traditional measures such as prescribed burns and defensible space requirements, can there be a comprehensive and effective framework for mitigating wildfire risk.