Colorado Wildfire Evacuation Levels Explained: READY, SET, GO

Why the Levels Matter

Colorado, like much of the western United States, uses a three-tier evacuation system: READY, SET, and GO. During a fast-moving fire — especially a wind-driven one like the Marshall Fire, which was pushed by 100-plus mph Chinook winds — the time between levels can be minutes, not hours. Knowing what each level means before an emergency is the difference between a calm departure and a panicked one.

These notifications come through several channels at once: federal Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) on your phone, your county's opt-in alert system, local law enforcement, and sometimes door-to-door contact. Keep your phone charged during fire season and sign up for your county's system now — county alerts are often earlier and more localized than the federal ones.

READY (Level 1): Fire Is in the Area

A Level 1 notification means a fire is burning nearby and conditions could change quickly. You are not being told to leave — you are being told to be prepared to leave at a moment's notice.

At this stage: pack your go-bags and put them by the door or in the car, fuel up your vehicles and park them facing out, bring pets inside or into a contained area, and review your evacuation routes. If anyone in your household is elderly, disabled, or slow to move — or if you have livestock or horses to load — this is the point to leave early rather than wait.

SET (Level 2): Danger Is Imminent

A Level 2 notification means the threat is significant and you should be ready to leave immediately. Voluntary evacuation is strongly encouraged, and anyone who needs extra time should go now.

At this stage: load your go-bags, pets, and medications into the vehicle. Do your quick home-prep pass — close all windows, doors, vents, and pet doors (leaving them unlocked for firefighters), shut off the gas, move patio furniture inside, and leave exterior lights on so crews can see the house through smoke. Then be ready to move the moment a GO order arrives, or leave voluntarily before it does.

GO! (Level 3): Leave Immediately

A Level 3 order means leave now. Do not stop to gather belongings, and do not wait to see the fire for yourself — by the time flames are visible, roads may already be closing.

Follow your pre-planned route rather than improvising, keep headlights on in smoke, and never drive through heavy smoke where visibility drops to near zero. Text family members instead of calling, since texts get through when voice networks are overloaded. Do not return home until officials declare it safe — reignition and structural hazards persist for days after the fire passes.

Build the Plan Before You Need It

The families who get out safely are the ones who decided in advance who grabs the go-bags, who gets the pets, and which two routes lead out of the neighborhood. NuBilt's free Wildfire Preparedness Kit includes a full go-bag packing list, a family communication plan, and a home protection audit — everything you need to be genuinely READY before the first alert ever arrives.

And if fire or smoke does reach your property, NuBilt responds 24/7 across the Denver metro and Front Range and works directly with your insurer to get you back home.