Cameron Peak Fire (2020)
Larimer County (Roosevelt National Forest), Colorado · Aug 13, 2020 – Dec 2, 2020
Largest wildfire in Colorado historyAcres burned
208,913
Lives lost
0
Structures destroyed
469
Year
2020
Duration
~3.5 months
What happened
The Cameron Peak Fire is the largest wildfire in Colorado history, burning over 208,000 acres west of Fort Collins across more than three months — including late-season runs through October snow.
Cause
Under investigation
Location
Larimer County (Roosevelt National Forest), Colorado
Key facts
- ▪Largest wildfire in Colorado history
- ▪Burned for over 3.5 months into winter
- ▪Crossed the Continental Divide
- ▪Part of Colorado’s record 2020 season
Replay the Cameron Peak Fire in the spread simulator
This centers the wildfire-spread simulator on the Cameron Peak Fire’s documented ignition point and replays its conditions on 2020-08-13 — the day’s strongest wind, temperature, and humidity from the open-meteo historical archive (which set the fire-day fuel moisture) — run through the same Rothermel surface-fire model used across FireRisk. Press ▶ Simulate to watch how fire tends to move under those conditions.
⚠️ Educational reconstruction — not the real fire perimeter
This is a simplified model of how fire spreads under the 2020 conditions, not the Cameron Peak Fire’s actual burned area, official progression, or a prediction of any current fire. It cannot account for real fuels, suppression, spotting, or how conditions changed hour to hour. For real-time fire information always follow Watch Duty, official agencies, and local authorities — and call 911 in an emergency.
Loading the 2020 fire-day conditions…
Reminder: an educational reconstruction of fire spread under the 2020 conditions — not the Cameron Peak Fire’s actual perimeter, an official record, or a forecast. Modeled spread, direction, and timing are illustrative only. Never rely on it for any safety decision.
Aftermath & what changed
Cameron Peak — burning the same year as the East Troublesome Fire — reset Colorado’s sense of fire scale and season length, and its burn scar drove years of flood and debris-flow risk.
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Related major fires
Cameron Peak Fire FAQ
When was the Cameron Peak Fire and where did it burn?
The Cameron Peak Fire started Aug 13, 2020 in Larimer County (Roosevelt National Forest), Colorado, and was contained Dec 2, 2020.
How many acres did the Cameron Peak Fire burn?
The Cameron Peak Fire burned approximately 208,913 acres.
How many people died in the Cameron Peak Fire?
Approximately 0 people died in the Cameron Peak Fire.
What caused the Cameron Peak Fire?
Under investigation.
Figures are approximate and compiled from official agency reporting; totals for recent fires may still be revised. FireRisk.ai is an independent wildfire-risk service.