In August of 2020, the Cameron Peak Fire was racing uncontrollably towards communities in northern Colorado. As it reached the footprint of a past U.S. Forest Service prescribed burn and the Drala Mountain Center, a near-miracle occurred. The prescribed burn, combined with forest restoration treatments at Drala, gave firefighters a foothold to halt a portion of the fire and avert disaster for the communities downslope.
This short film by Fort Collins filmmaker Evan Barrientos tells the story of what happened there through the accounts of a U.S. Forest Service fire specialist, the Drala land manager, and a Larimer Conservation District forester. Together, they urge Colorado and the West to see fire and forest management as natural and essential parts of the landscape. By shifting the way we perceive fire, we can create hope for the future of our forests.

The event will begin with a short introduction by Larimer Conservation District Executive Director Gretchen Reuning and Evan Barrientos. Following the 16-minute film, Gretchen and James White (U.S. Forest Service cooperative fire specialist) will give a Q&A session with the audience.