Owens and Ritter: Colorado cannot afford a wildfire season ruled by ideology (Opinion)
- Posted on April 28, 2026
- By The Denver Post
- 0 Views
- 1 min read
In brief
Colorado faces mounting wildfire risks as ideological opposition blocks proven forest management strategies. Experts warn that preventing evidence-based interventions like selective thinning, fuel reduction, and controlled burns undermines the state's ability to mitigate catastrophic fire seasons. This opinion piece examines how political resistance to scientific forest management practices threatens public safety and ecosystem health, emphasizing the urgent need for balanced wildfire prevention policies.
Summary auto-generated by AI from the original publisher's content. Editorial standards.
Owens and Ritter: Colorado cannot afford a wildfire season ruled by ideology (Opinion)
For years, there have been loud voices opposing the very tools that can help reduce catastrophic wildfire risk — strategic thinning, fuel reduction, forest clearing where appropriate, and prescribed burns when conditions allow. Too…
