The Aug. 27 opinion article “Get Wild: Protecting communities from wildfire without sacrificing wilderness” is right about something important: wildfire risk is real in Colorado, and action is needed. Where I disagree is with the suggestion that reducing catastrophic wildfire risk and protecting wilderness are competing goals.

This summer has shown us why. The Aspen Acres and Gold Mountain fires burned more than 140,000 acres, destroyed hundreds of homes and damaged critical infrastructure. And the danger did not end when the flames subsided. Flooding and debris flows have followed on burn scars, threatening communities, roads, watersheds and water infrastructure.

Wildfire resilience begins before ignition and continues long after containment. Fire policy is also water policy.

The Fix Our Forests Act recognizes that broader challenge. It would support forest restoration and wildfire-risk reduction while strengthening forecasting, response and coordination among federal, state, Tribal and local partners. We need to be able to do responsible work at the pace the problem demands while maintaining the conservation values that work is intended to protect.

As Advisory Board chair for Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors, I believe caring for Colorado’s wild places means confronting the threats that can fundamentally change them. Healthy forests and watersheds sustain wildlife habitat and the places where we hike, hunt, fish, camp and find connection to the outdoors.

The Fix Our Forests Act will not resolve every wildfire challenge. But reducing catastrophic wildfire risk is not at odds with conservation. Done responsibly, it is part of conservation.

The legislation has earned significant bipartisan support. The Senate now has an opportunity to make meaningful progress on an issue Colorado cannot afford to postpone.