Renowned author and journalist John Vaillant delivered a powerful and sobering message to the Steamboat Springs community during his appearance at the Bud Werner Memorial Library on July 30.

Speaking on his award-winning book Fire Weather, Vaillant warned that we are entering a new era, one in which the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires demand urgent attention and a major rethinking of how we live in the modern world.

Using passages from his book, Vaillant described how climate change is accelerating, shifting from a slow warming trend to sudden, record-breaking extremes.

This shift, he said, marks the end of climate stability as we once knew it. Fires are no longer manageable in the ways that allowed civilizations to thrive in the past. When humans were once in control of progression rates, the power has shifted to climate change, outpacing technology and moving even faster than historical norms.

“We’ve all become casual wizards,” Vaillant told the crowd, referencing the ease with which humans can now ignite catastrophic fires. He emphasized that fire is the only natural disaster humans can easily start, yet often can not control.

Vaillant’s warnings feel especially relevant as we look at what’s happening here in Colorado.

At the time of this writing, there are three active wildfires within 100 miles of Routt County and we have felt their impact. Our air quality index has reached levels as high as 180, primarily due to smoke drifting in from fires in Rio Blanco County, where two wildfires have already burned roughly 130,000 acres combined.

While we may not be under evacuation orders, the threat is far from distant. Routt County’s deep agricultural roots, including its renowned Centennial ranches, put us at greater risk.

Fields planted with dry grasses or hay for livestock can act as a perfect fuel for wildfires, allowing flames to spread rapidly across open land. With hot temperatures, low humidity and little rainfall, the state is now experiencing moderate drought which provides ideal conditions for exponential fire growth.

In areas under Red Flag Warnings, flames can travel at speeds up to 20 miles per hour, rapidly consuming large stretches of land within minutes. This was evident during the 2021 Muddy Slide Fire near Yampa, which posed a significant threat to Routt County.

The fire’s proximity to homes was alarming, but even more concerning was its relentless pace, it continued to spread rapidly both during the day and overnight.

What happened in 2021 serves as a warning for what could unfold again. Now, some parts of Routt County have already received similar warnings, stressing how immediate the danger is.

John Vaillant’s presentation was more than just a talk, it was a call to action. Inspired by his message, I’ve started reading Fire Weather, and I urge everyone who wants to better understand our changing world to do the same.

To further get involved with wildfire mitigation efforts, join the upcoming community book discussion at Off The Beaten Path Bookstore on Wednesday Aug. 27 from 6-7:30 p.m.

Together we’ll explore Fire Weather in greater depth and discuss how we as a community can take meaningful steps to mitigate threats in our neighborhoods. In this new age of fire, we are all affected, and each person has a role to play in keeping our communities safe.

For more information on steps you can take today, visit RouttWildFire.org

Elianna Merage is an intern for the Routt County Wildfire Mitigation Council.