DENVER -- A legislative interim committee is scheduled Wednesday to continue its discussion on ways to keep the growing mountain communities safe from wildfire.

The Interim Committee on Wildfire issues in Wildland-Urban Interface Areas convened Tuesday afternoon at the Legislative Services Building.

The committee chair, Sen. Dan Gibbs, a democrat whose district covers the Silverthorne area, is also a wildland firefighter.

"Unfortunately, the likelihood that a fire will encroach on our mountain and rural communities increases as those communities boom," Gibbs said.

Gibbs told 7NEWS that one million Coloradoans live in areas known as the wildland-urban interface -- where homes meet forest areas.

But Gibbs said Monday's 900-acre fire on Green Mountain is a perfect example of how residents don't have to be on U.S. Forest Service land to be vulnerable to wildfire.

The committee will work over the coming weeks and months to develop proposals to help control the spread of wildfires.

Gibbs said there is a growing concern among firefighters about larger fires breaking out.

"We're talking about mega fires where it could potentially burn 500,000 acres or more," Gibbs said. "When you look at the amount of dead trees in Colorado due to bark beetles, I think we're one match strike or one lightning strike away from a serious challenge."

State and federal fire officials, along with emergency managers from across the state are involved in the committee discussions.

Streamlining training for volunteer firefighters and hiring a state fire marshal are recommendations being considered.

"Wildfires are a growing threat to growing communities," said Rep. Christin Scanlan, a Democrat from Summit County, and vice chairwoman of the committee. "So we must become more creative in our methods."