Community voices, recovery statistics, and ongoing restoration efforts highlight Northern Colorado’s resilience after Colorado’s largest wildfire.
(August 22, 2025) It’s been five years since the Cameron Peak Fire ignited on August 13, 2020, and scorched about 208,913 acres (approximately 326 square miles) across the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, Larimer and Jackson Counties, and Rocky Mountain National Park—marking it as Colorado’s largest wildfire on record.
The Fire’s Aftermath: What Was Lost—and Who Felt It
Over 6,000 people were evacuated at its peak—from Estes Park, Red Feather Lakes, Rustic, Chambers Lake, and surrounding communities. The fire destroyed a total of 469 structures, including 42 primary residences—touching homes, livelihoods, and the very fabric of small-town life.
Beyond properties, the Cameron Peak Fire’s legacy includes tragic tolls from post‑fire hazards. According to state wildfire compilations, six deaths were linked to post‑fire flash flooding and debris flows: four in 2021 and two in 2022.
Survivor Voices: Stories of Fear, Loss, and Determination
Around Reddit and local media, people recalled the anxiety and chaos of those months:…