In 2013, The Denver Post library compiled the top 35 largest wildfires in Colorado history in terms of how many acres were burned; the ongoing Spring Creek fire in Costilla and Huerfano counties and other recent fires have made it necessary to update the list for 2018.

1. 2002 Hayman – 137,760 acres, five firefighter deaths, 133 homes burned and 600 total structures destroyed, arson caused.
2. 2013 West Fork Complex — 109,049 acres, lightning caused.
3. 2018 Spring Creek, Costilla and Huerfano counties – 103,357 acres, damaged or destroyed at least 251 homes, human caused. This fire is active and may be updated here.
4. 2012 High Park, Larimer County –  87,250 acres, killed one person, destroyed 248 homes, lightning caused.
5. 2002 Missionary Ridge, near Durango – 71,739 acres; one firefighter death after tree fall, burned 46 houses and cabins.
6. 2018 416, 13 miles north of Durango – 52,778 acres. This fire is active and may be updated here.
7. 2008 Bridger, Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site – 46,612 acres.
8. 2012 Last Chance grassland, eastern Colorado — 44,000 acres.
9. 2018 Milemarker 117, El Paso County – 42,795 acres.
10. 2016 Beaver Creek, Jackson County, Routt National Forest – 38,380 acres.
11. 2018 Badger Hole, Colorado and Kansas border – 33,609 acres in Colorado, and a total of 50,815 in both states, burned 24 structures.
12. 2002 Trinidad Complex (Spring, Fisher/James John fires) – 33,000 acres.
13. 2017 Logan, Logan County – 32,564 acres, destroyed 15 homes, killed hundreds of cattle.
14. 2002 Mount Zirkel Complex, near Steamboat – 31,016 acres.
15. 2002 Burn Canyon, Norwood – 30,573 acres.
16. 2002 Trinidad Complex, Las Animas County – 27,084 acres.
17. 1879 Lime Creek, San Juan National Forest – 26,000 acres.
18. 2008 Mayberry, Maybell – 25,385 acres.
19. 2012 Little Sand, Pagosa Springs, Hinsdale County – 24,931 acres.
20. 2000 Bircher, near Mesa Verde – 23,607 acres.