As large wildfires scorch the Colorado landscape and rising temperatures threaten to ignite more, fire departments across the state are facing a critical challenge: a delicate balancing act between helping neighbors and protecting their own backyards.

For agencies like Summit Fire & EMS, the decision to send crews and equipment to a distant fire is a constant calculation of risk.

"That's a daily decision, it's a moment-by-moment decision," explained Brandon McBride, the risk management specialist for the wildland division of Summit Fire and EMS. "When we get asked to respond to something out of this county, immediately the duty officer starts the conversation with the battalion chief, and we ask, 'do we have that capability?'"

That capability is determined by what they've got to offer,

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