Eagle Valley Wildland Leads the Charge in Wildfire Mitigation

When it comes to Vail Valley wildfires, it’s not a question of if, it’s when. According to Hugh Fairfield-Smith, fire management officer for Eagle Valley Wildland (EVW) and division chief of wildland fire operations for Eagle River Fire Protection District (ERFPD), wildfires are part of living in Eagle County — which is why it’s imperative to ensure that damage caused by these inevitable fires is kept to a minimum.

Anyone driving around Eagle County over the past six years has most likely noticed changes in the landscape — all of which are the result of EVW’s holistic, proactive approach to fire mitigation (also known as ecosystem restoration). Thanks to EVW — a program created in 2019 by ERFPD and Greater Eagle Fire in response to the 2018 Lake Christine Fire — communities across the Vail Valley are getting the ecosystem restoration they have needed for decades. EVW is a partnership between ERFPD, Eagle County, the Greater Eagle Fire Protection District and Gypsum Fire.

“Since its inception in 2019, EVW has treated over 8,000 acres of land in Eagle County,” explains Fairfield-Smith. “That includes prescribed fires (which is the best method because it’s natural), as well as thinning and fuel reduction production (methods that require people and equipment but are also very effective).” In some cases, their expertise reaches beyond Eagle County. In January of 2025, EVW sent 13 firefighters to help with the wildfire devastation that took place in Los Angeles.

When asked why fires have been more prevalent in recent years, Fairfield-Smith sites climate change and the fact that Colorado land wasn’t managed properly from 1910 to 2019. He explains, “Part of the reason Colorado is experiencing a wildfire crisis is because the U.S. Forest Service implemented the 10 a.m. Policy which means they put out every fire by 10 a.m. the next day. That policy led to a huge increase in vegetation, overgrowth and service fuels [brush] that then caused crown fires [fire in the trees], which are all-consuming.”

As a result, the parts of the forest that need to burn for safety reasons haven’t had a chance to do so, making areas of Eagle County more susceptible to wildfires. Before the 10 a.m. Policy existed, Fairfield-Smith says that, depending on the area, natural wildfires came through every five to 30 years which naturally took care of the unhealthy small vegetation and brush, leaving the larger, healthy trees. Over the last six years, EVW’s fire mitigation efforts have been implemented to “create tactical advantage to give our firefighters the best opportunity for success to engage wildland fire in and around homes by lessening the fire severity and intensity.”

ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION

A significant aspect of this tactical advantage is the ecosystem restoration put into place throughout Eagle County neighborhoods — including the Homestead water tower area, Beaver Creek, Arrowhead, Cordillera, Bachelor Gulch, the Brush Creek corridor, Gypsum Creek Road, Singletree, Wildridge and Wildwood. “We attempt to mimic that natural fire by altering the landscape and removing small vegetation, along with sick, dead and dying trees, and anything that natural fire would burn,” adds Fairfield-Smith. “By doing so, we reduce the competition of resources [water, soil and nutrients] to allow for the older, more mature trees to remain healthy. Additionally, in many cases, we come through and seed using a natural seed blend which promotes deer and elk health allowing wildlife to help treat the land for us.” He points out that before EVW, the reseeding method had never been used to manage the land.

So far, the results have been positive — for both wildlife and humans. “Our wildlife is flourishing because deer and elk are able to move more freely through the landscape and there is more grass for them to eat,” Fairfield-Smith explains. “We work closely with Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) because we want to make sure we’re not negatively impacting wildlife and reports show that deer and elk are responding well to the ecosystem restoration.”

Regarding how Vail Valley residents are handling the change in landscape as a result of EVW’s ecosystem restoration, Fairfield-Smith acknowledges that when the program began people were concerned about aesthetics. But now, in 2025, residents have a better understanding of why fire mitigation is necessary for the health and safety of the Eagle County.

NEIGHBORHOOD FIRE WATCH

One important identification Vail Valley neighborhoods are looking to achieve is their Firewise USA designation. According to Katie Jenkins, wildfire mitigation specialist for Eagle County, Firewise “is a collaborative framework designed to help communities organize and take action to reduce wildfire risks.” She explains that the county has wildfire regulations that require all new development, new construction and additions to existing structures to comply with mitigation best practices. Jenkins is also responsible for inspections associated with these building and planning projects.

When asked if she experiences pushback from homeowners who are hesitant to cut down trees for aesthetic reasons, Jenkins says that “while some people value aesthetics and privacy over public safety, I think it’s important to understand that it’s not always the quantity of vegetation that’s the issue but the quality.” She continues, “There are many ways to incorporate both fire-resistant landscaping and aesthetics. Usually, if a homeowner is weary of removing certain items, we can mitigate around them. The big take-home message is that homeowners must be responsible and mitigate their own properties against wildfire. If they are interested in site-specific recommendations, they can reach out to me or their local fire district for guidance.”

While many neighborhoods have earned their Firewise designations over the last few years, Cordillera was one of the first. “We’re proud to be the model community because we pour a lot of effort into ensuring compliance with Firewise standards,” says Crystal Wilson, general manager of the Cordillera Property Owners Association (CPOA). Cordillera’s website has an entire section dedicated to wildfire mitigation and provides links to the community’s Dead, Sick or Dying Tree Removal and Replanting Application, the CPOA Residential Wildfire Mitigation Resolution, Wildfire Mitigation Project Maps and Proposed Prescribed Burn Maps, among other documents. Wilson points out that the example Cordillera has set for Eagle County is leading to other neighborhoods following suit and taking action. She adds, “We have regular meetings about the importance of fire mitigation and ecosystem restoration — it’s a joint effort between the CPOA, Metro District and EVW.”

ONE OF A KIND

Over the last six years, EVW has spearheaded the Firewise accreditation of 18 Eagle County communities. According to Fairfield-Smith, EVW is currently working towards getting every single neighborhood designated which will lead to applying for a county-wide recognition for Firewise accreditation — the first of its kind in the nation. “It’s never been done which aligns with EVW because we do what no one has done before,” he explains. “EVW has become a nationwide model because we challenge the status quo to make sure the Vail Valley doesn’t fall victim to fire devastation.”

Doing what’s never been done is clearly a significant part of Fairfield-Smith’s strategy to keep the Vail Valley wildfire safe. “If we have a healthy ecosystem the severity of any fire is greatly reduced,” he points out. “That being said, we will always have wildfires so we look at how to change the severity — meaning how long the fire will burn, the flame lengths and how fast it will move.” He explains that because burn time is short when there is less fuel (vegetation) to burn per acre, EVW’s proactive method of fire mitigation is essential. He also says that an important aspect of ecosystem restoration is protecting evacuation routes as numerous communities are one way in and one way out. Exemplifying how the program has broken the mold, EVW won the International Association of Fire Chiefs Award For Excellence In Wildland Fire Mitigation in 2022. “For unconventional problems, we must do unconventional things,” he adds.

Going forward, Fairfield-Smith reiterates that EVW’s holistic approach is saving Eagle County and that, although our local first responders do an exceptional job, “we desperately need homeowners to do their part.” Thankfully, instead of pushing back, Vail Valley residents are now inquiring about the status of fire mitigation projects in their respective neighborhoods. As a result, EVW has changed the narrative and given residents a deeper understanding that preemptive action is necessary for when, not if, wildland fires appear in our fair town.

For more information, visit eagleriverfire.org/eagle-valley-wildland.