There has been plenty of ink spilled reflecting on the East Troublesome Fire and its aftermath. I will likely spill more myself as I return to my Grand Lake property after these four years, but this column isn’t a reflection; it’s a call to action. We need to be proactive to mitigate the risks of megafires in Middle Park.

The East Troublesome Fire was the second-largest wildfire in Colorado’s history. Due to hotter average temperatures, increased drought conditions, greater pest outbreaks like bark beetles, and more intrusive development of natural spaces, it’s only a matter of time before a bigger and more destructive fire happens.

Wildfires on the Western Slope affect not only recreation and agricultural economies, but also natural ecosystems that impact our overall quality of life through air, water and ground pollution.

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With over a decade of experience in conservation in the American West, I appreciate the crucial work done on the land to minimize wildfire impacts, especially in communities like ours, with Grand County straddling the line between developed and natural landscapes.

The U.S. Department of Energy and the Colorado Energy Office are stepping up to bolster resilience against destructive fires with communities like ours in mind.

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The state and federal governments are funding projects aimed at hardening our electrical grid to withstand wildfires and reduce the risk of fires ignited by power lines.

The Dixie Fire in northern California and the Marshall Fire in Boulder County were both exacerbated by faulty energy infrastructure, and the destruction caused by those fires highlights the urgency of this work in Grand County. By acting now, we can put ourselves in a better position ahead of the inevitable next fire.

Our local energy cooperative, Mountain Parks Electric, is receiving two grants from the Department of Energy and the Colorado Energy Office to enhance grid resilience in the North Shore and Drowsy Water areas.

The North Shore project is funded by a $740,000 grant to upgrade more than 3 miles of conductors and poles to reduce the risk of accidental ignition in this densely forested area. The Drowsy Water grant will allow Mountain Parks to put nearly 2 miles of electric line underground, protecting the lines from fires and reducing the likelihood of fires caused by a faulty system.

The state and federal governments are also providing a grant of more than $360,000 for comprehensive drone inspections of all of Mountain Parks’ distribution poles, conductors and assets, allowing the co-op to better plan and prepare for the next wildfire.

While there’s never a silver bullet, we in Middle Park should do what we can to help prevent and withstand wildfires as they become more frequent and destructive. By learning from other fires throughout the West and using the resources available from state and federal agencies, we can ensure our community is more resilient to disasters as they come.

Jeremy D. Krones is the executive director of the Colorado Headwaters Land Trust.