Power lines running through mountain landscape

Combating wildfire risk

Stewards of land and community

Our members power the agricultural, mountain and tribal communities foundational to the rural West. Together we serve almost one million homes and businesses across Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming—and we’re committed to providing them reliable, affordable, responsible electricity. That’s why when it comes to wildfire, Tri-State is proactively reducing risk through system hardening, vegetation management and situational awareness.

Wildfire Mitigation at Tri-State

Wildfire Modeling — 2025 Lee Fire burning near substation in Meeker, CO

Resiliency under fire

In August 2025 the Lee Fire burned over 130,000 acres in northwest Colorado – threatening the town of Meeker as well as Tri-State infrastructure. Learn the play-by-play from our Business Resiliency Manager, Pete Slintak on how Tri-State worked with others to preserve and rebuild vital infrastructure.

audio icon Lee Fire Podcast Episode

Our proactive approach

Preventative situational awareness is the first line of defense in our wildfire mitigation program. We’re using tools like risk modeling, drone inspections, and daily reporting to prioritize when and how we harden our system. Using this data, we’re able to plan vegetation management projects, transmission system upgrades so we can maintain safe, reliable energy for our members.

audio icon Wildfire Mitigation Program Podcast

Help co-ops combat fire

Tri-State invests significantly in wildfire mitigation, however, no risk can be completely mitigated. Insurance agencies are no longer offering adequate wildfire insurance policies to electric cooperatives, and the smaller policies they do offer have recently doubled in price for only half the coverage. Additionally, electric cooperatives face high wildfire liability, including for fires not caused by their equipment and when they have taken all precautions to mitigate those risks. To continue providing safe, reliable and affordable energy, rural electric cooperatives need protection from wildfire risks. Tri-State is working with elected officials across our service territory to develop solutions that better protect electric cooperatives from the growing risks of wildfire.

The videos below show how our members are also doing their part—both before and after a fire.

Additional resources

Wildfire Mitigation

Learn how we safeguard our communities and protect our transmission system with a multi-layered, data-driven approach.

Vegetation Management

Learn how we responsibly manage vegetation in our right-of-ways to help minimize risks from trees and vegetation that could interfere with our transmission lines.

Home Wildfire Safety

Stay safe during wildfire season with these tips for your home. This blog covers defensible space, emergency kits, evacuation planning, and how to prepare your home and family.

After years of careful planning, High Plains Power Electric Cooperative buries powerline in Dubois, WY to reduce wildfire risk.

Mora-San Miguel Electric Cooperative deals with the aftermath of the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire in New Mexico.

In Southwestern Colorado, the community of La Veta comes together to mitigate flooding risks after the Spring Creek Fire.

San-Miguel Power Association, the Telluride Fire Department and Pano AI teamed up to pioneer new wildfire mitigation technology.

Internalized Expertise: The New Mexico Cooperative Redefining Vegetation Management Standards

Vegetation management plays a vital role in wildfire mitigation, especially across the rugged landscapes of southern New Mexico. For Tri-State member Otero County Electric Cooperative (OCEC), a pivotal moment came when they acquired both the workforce and equipment from their longtime vegetation management contractor, owned by a former Otero lineworker with deep local knowledge. This transition allowed OCEC to retain a highly skilled team, enabling the cooperative to craft a more effective, locally attuned vegetation strategy that benefits everyone.

Boots on the Ground: Cooperative Leaders Clear the Way for a New Schoolhouse

Leadership teams from Tri-State G&T and Poudre Valley REA volunteered with local nonprofits, Combat Recovery Foundation and the Heart-J Center at Sylvan Dale Ranch, to clear thistles as part of a vegetation management project in Loveland, Colorado.

Wildfire Mitigation at Canyons of the Ancients: Protecting Culture and Community

Exploring the balance between wildfire mitigation and cultural preservation, Tri-State highlights the collaborative efforts to protect the historic culture at Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. By carefully managing vegetation and respecting Indigenous heritage, Tri-State and partners are reducing wildfire risks while protecting the area's rich archaeological and cultural significance, ensuring a safer future for both the land and the communities it serves.

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