Southern Colorado Sees Surge in Red Flag Warning Days in 2026

Region has already recorded 25 high-risk fire days, far exceeding past years

Mar. 13, 2026 at 9:51pm

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Southern Colorado has already recorded 25 red flag warning days in 2026 — roughly 1 in every 3 days — far surpassing anything seen in the past 20 years year-to-date. This pace shatters previous records, with March alone seeing 10 red flag warning days, more than the average for the entire month.

Why it matters

The relentless fire danger this year is being driven by the position of the jet stream, which has consistently steered storms north of Colorado, allowing warmth to build and quickly dry out grasses and other fuels. This raises serious concerns about the potential for destructive wildfires in the region.

The details

Colorado Springs Fire Chief Randy Royal has watched Red Flag Warnings increase dramatically over the past 30 years, from 2-5 per year in the 1980s-2010 to much more frequent occurrences, particularly in the last 12 years which have seen the 5 most destructive fires in Colorado's history.

  • Through Saturday, southern Colorado will have seen 10 red flag warning days in March 2026.
  • On average, April is the busiest month for Red Flag Warnings, with March, May, and June varying each year for second through fourth place.

The players

Randy Royal

Colorado Springs Fire Chief with 30 years of experience who has witnessed a dramatic increase in Red Flag Warnings over that time.

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What they’re saying

“If you go back in time...Red Flag Warnings...that you all are familiar with...two to three...to five a year was normal. And that was back in the 80s to about 2010.”

— Randy Royal, Colorado Springs Fire Chief

“In the last 12 years...we have seen in Colorado the 5 most destructive fires in our history.”

— Randy Royal, Colorado Springs Fire Chief

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.