By Catie Ballenger, American Red Cross

When wildfires threaten Colorado communities, preparedness can make all the difference. That is why the American Red Cross is proud to honor Xcel Energy as a hero at this year’s Salute to Heroes celebration.

Across Colorado, communities are facing increasing wildfire risk and more frequent emergency situations that require strong partnerships, thoughtful planning and trusted organizations working side by side. Xcel Energy has stepped forward as a partner committed not only to keeping the lights on, but to helping people stay safe, informed and connected during difficult moments.

Through support of Red Cross Home Fire Campaigns and Sound the Alarm events, Xcel Energy has helped families learn lifesaving safety information, install needed smoke alarms and create emergency preparedness plans that can protect lives long before disaster strikes. Their partnership has helped bring preparedness directly into neighborhoods across Colorado, empowering residents with practical tools and knowledge to better respond to emergencies.

That commitment became especially meaningful during public safety power shutoff events. As communities navigated outages designed to reduce wildfire risk, Xcel Energy worked alongside the Red Cross and local partners to support charging stations, share timely information and help ensure community members, especially those with medical or access needs, had access to critical resources and support.

At the heart of this partnership is a shared belief that preparedness is a community effort. Xcel Energy’s wildfire outreach emphasizes that safety is a responsibility shared by everyone, and their investment in education, prevention and community engagement reflects that commitment.

What makes Xcel Energy stand out is not just the scale of its work, but the way it shows up for communities. Whether helping families prepare before disaster strikes or supporting them during challenging moments, Xcel continues to demonstrate what partnership and service truly look like.

Together, the Red Cross and Xcel Energy are helping Colorado communities stay informed, prepared and supported when it matters most. For their leadership, collaboration and unwavering commitment to making Colorado safer, we are proud to celebrate Xcel Energy as one of this year’s heroes.