How bad is Colorado's wildfire risk in the suburbs?

The 2021 Marshall Fire proved that Colorado wildfire risk is no longer a mountain-only problem. Driven by 100+ mph winds through dry grasslands in suburban Boulder County, it destroyed roughly 1,000 homes in a single afternoon — the most destructive wildfire in state history — inside built-out subdivisions most residents would not have considered high-risk. Colorado's combination of grassland, foothills, and mountain fuels means wind-driven fires can move through suburban neighborhoods faster than crews can defend them.

Why can't I get home insurance in Colorado?

After Marshall and back-to-back billion-dollar wildfire and hail seasons, several major insurers have paused new business or non-renewed high-risk Colorado homes. The state now has some of the highest average homeowners premiums in the country — roughly $3,017 per year, about 38% above the national average. Homeowners who have been non-renewed can compare options across specialty and surplus-lines markets through an independent agent, and — as a last resort — apply for the new Colorado FAIR Plan through a licensed agent. The Colorado Division of Insurance publishes consumer guidance and a complaint process.

What is the Colorado FAIR Plan and who qualifies?

The Colorado FAIR Plan (Fair Access to Insurance Requirements) launched in April 2025 as the state's insurer of last resort — a shared-market pool for homeowners who genuinely can't buy coverage on the open market. To qualify you generally need proof that three admitted insurers have declined to write you a policy. You cannot apply directly; you go through a licensed Colorado insurance agent. Details: coloradofairplan.com.

How much does the FAIR Plan cover?

The Colorado FAIR Plan writes basic actual-cash-value coverage (not replacement cost), with a $750,000 residential dwelling coverage cap. Wind and hail are available as add-ons but are not automatically included. It does not include liability, theft, or water damage — most policyholders pair it with a separate 'wrap-around' or difference-in-conditions policy. Premiums are high; it is a true last resort, not a value option.

What should I grab when evacuating a Colorado wildfire?

Wind-driven Colorado wildfires can move miles in an hour — Marshall Fire evacuations gave many families only minutes. Keep a go-bag packed: N95 masks and goggles, prescription medications, phone chargers and a battery pack, sturdy shoes and long sleeves, cash, copies of ID and insurance, and a printed list of critical account info. Grab pets (in carriers), your evacuation kit, and — if there's time — small irreplaceables. Do not risk your life for possessions. Your home inventory should already be in the cloud.

How do I prove what I owned after a total loss?

After a total-loss wildfire there is nothing left to photograph — the only proof is what you documented before the fire. A room-by-room video walkthrough, photos of appliance data plates, and receipts for major items, all stored off-site. Colorado homeowners without a pre-loss inventory routinely settle for a fraction of what they lost because they cannot reconstruct years of possessions from memory. This is the single highest-leverage step you can take before fire season.

How should Colorado homeowners prepare their home records for wildfire season?

Colorado homeowners should document their property with dated photos and a written inventory, then back everything up off-site — because wind-driven fire can leave almost no warning. Colorado's core wildfire season now runs about 78 days longer than it did 50 years ago, according to the state Division of Fire Prevention and Control, and grass-fueled fires can strike even in winter. The state's signature danger is high winds combining with dry fuels along the Front Range wildland-urban interface, demonstrated by the December 2021 Marshall Fire, which was spread by hurricane-force winds through Louisville and Superior and destroyed more than 1,000 homes — the most destructive fire in state history. The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control leads state wildfire response, and communities across Colorado use the Ready, Set, Go! evacuation framework. Corbivo keeps a FEMA-ready home inventory and your full home file backed up off-site, so if you file an insurance or federal-assistance claim after a wildfire, your documentation is already complete and accessible from anywhere.

When is wildfire season in Colorado?

Colorado's traditional wildfire season peaks from late spring through early fall, roughly May through September, but the state's core fire season has expanded significantly and grass fires can now ignite year-round. The Front Range faces particular danger when strong downslope winds meet drought-dried grasses, as the December 2021 Marshall Fire proved. Mountain forests, foothills, and the grasslands where subdivisions meet open range are all at risk. Dry, windy days — regardless of month — drive the fastest-moving and most destructive fires across the state's wildland-urban interface.

Colorado Wildfire Guide — Defensible Space, FAIR Plan & Claims

1. Colorado's wildfire risk, by the numbers

Colorado's fire problem is no longer confined to the mountains — grassland and wind now drive fires straight through suburban neighborhoods.

In December 2021, the Marshall Fire tore through suburban Boulder County under 100+ mph winds and destroyed roughly 1,000 homes in a single afternoon — the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history, and one of the costliest in U.S. history.

Colorado's fire fuels are unusually varied: grassland fires on the plains and Front Range, foothill fires at the mountain edge, and high-country forest fires in beetle-killed pine. Wind-driven fires can move miles in hours regardless of terrain.

The insurance market has responded to back-to-back catastrophic wildfire and hail seasons: Colorado's average homeowners premium is now about $3,017 per year — roughly 38% above the national average — and several major carriers have paused new business or non-renewed high-risk homes.

2. Defensible space & home hardening

Colorado grassland fires spread fast in wind — the first 5 feet around your house is the single most important zone.

Zone 0 (0–5 ft) — non-combustible buffer. Gravel, hardscape, or bare mineral soil against the foundation. No bark mulch or wood chips, no combustible plants, no wood fencing attached to the house. Clear leaves and needles from roof and gutters. In a wind-driven grass fire, embers pile up here first.
Zone 1 (5–30 ft) — lean, clean, green. Irrigated, well-spaced, low-growing plants. Keep grass mowed short. Remove dead vegetation. Trim tree limbs at least 10 ft from the house and 10 ft from the chimney. Move firewood piles out to Zone 2.
Zone 2 (30–100 ft) — reduced fuel. Mow annual grasses. Space trees so canopies don't touch — 10 ft apart on flat ground, more on slopes. Remove ladder fuels. Dispose of dead plant material.
Home hardening. Class-A rated roof, ember-resistant (⅛-inch mesh) vents, enclosed eaves and soffits, dual-pane or tempered windows, non-combustible siding where possible. Under-deck enclosure and non-combustible deck boards for exposed decks.

3. Build your home inventory long before wildfire season

Marshall Fire families had minutes to leave. Documentation is what you can't reconstruct after.

When your home burns to the foundation, there is nothing left to photograph. The only proof of what you owned is what you captured before the fire, stored somewhere off your property. Adjusters pay contents claims on proof, and undocumented belongings are the single biggest reason Colorado homeowners get underpaid after a total loss.

Walk every room with your phone and record slow, deliberate video. Open closets, drawers, and cabinets.
Photograph the front of every appliance and its data plate (brand, model, serial number).
Keep receipts, order confirmations, and warranty registrations for expensive items.
Store the whole record off-site — cloud storage, an email to yourself, or a service that keeps a timestamped copy.

In a wildfire total loss, the record you built ahead of time is the only proof you'll have. Build it on a calm afternoon — never during an emergency. Corbivo keeps a timestamped inventory of your home, appliances, and belongings — stored off your property, ready long before you'd ever need it.

4. The Colorado insurance crisis + new FAIR Plan

Colorado launched a FAIR Plan in April 2025 because the private market had pulled back so far from wildfire-exposed homes.

What the Colorado FAIR Plan is. A state-created shared-market pool (coloradofairplan.com) that provides basic property coverage to homeowners who genuinely can't buy a policy on the open market. It is the insurer of last resort, not a value option.

Who qualifies. You generally need proof that three admitted insurers have declined to write you a policy. You cannot apply directly — you go through a licensed Colorado insurance agent.

What it covers. Basic actual-cash-value coverage (not replacement cost), with a $750,000 residential dwelling coverage cap. Wind and hail are available as add-ons, not automatic. It does not include liability, theft, or water damage. Most policyholders pair it with a separate "wrap-around" or difference-in-conditions policy.

Premiums are high. FAIR Plan pricing is designed to reflect the risk carriers refused. Treat it as a bridge while you harden your home, document Firewise/mitigation work, and re-shop the admitted market at each renewal.

If you've been non-renewed: Ask a licensed agent about the Colorado FAIR Plan — coloradofairplan.com. For complaints or help, contact the Colorado Division of Insurance: 303-894-7499 / 800-930-3745.

5. Evacuation planning

Most Colorado counties use the Ready-Set-Go framework and their own emergency notification systems. Know your zone and sign up for alerts before fire season.

Know your zone. Look up your county's emergency notification system (LookoutAlert, CodeRED, etc.) and register. Turn on Wireless Emergency Alerts on your phone.
Ready — before fire season. Defensible space done. Home-hardening documented. Go-bag packed. Home inventory in the cloud. Two evacuation routes identified. Pet carriers accessible.
Set — red flag warnings / nearby fire. Move go-bag and valuables to the vehicle. Park facing out. Full tank of gas. Charge phones and battery packs. Close windows and interior doors. Move flammable patio furniture and door mats away from the house.
Go — evacuation order. Do not wait in wind-driven conditions. Take your go-bag, pets in carriers, medications, phone chargers, IDs, insurance info. Wear long sleeves and closed-toe shoes. Do not risk your life for possessions.
Go-bag basics. N95 masks and goggles, prescription meds, phone chargers + battery pack, cash, copies of ID and policies, a written contact list, water and snacks, pet food and leashes, sturdy shoes and gloves.

6. After a wildfire in Colorado

Do not return until officially cleared. Burned neighborhoods are closed for unstable structures, live wires, hot spots, and hazardous materials.
Assume ash is toxic. Post-wildfire ash contains heavy metals, asbestos, and other hazards. Wear an N95 or better, gloves, long sleeves, and eye protection.
Watch for flash floods and debris flows in burn scars. Burned Colorado hillsides can't hold water — the first significant rain or thunderstorm after a fire can produce dangerous, fast-moving mud and debris flows. Heed every warning.
Document everything before cleanup. Photograph and video the exterior, interior, and every destroyed item. Do not remove debris until your adjuster and any state-managed debris-removal program has inspected — DIY cleanup can void reimbursement.
Beware post-fire contractor scams. Never pay in full up front, never sign an assignment-of-benefits form under pressure, and verify a Colorado contractor before hiring.

7. Filing a Colorado wildfire claim

Open the claim immediately. Call your carrier or FAIR Plan claims line. Get a claim number and adjuster name in writing.
Ask about Additional Living Expenses (ALE) on day one. ALE covers hotels, rentals, meals, pet boarding, and mileage above your normal costs while your home is uninhabitable. Save every receipt from the moment you evacuate.
Document smoke damage aggressively. Smoke penetrates HVAC systems, insulation, drywall, and porous belongings. Get independent air-quality and surface testing if the insurer resists remediation.
Build the total-loss contents inventory. Use your pre-loss video walkthrough and appliance data-plate photos as the backbone. Reconstruct room by room. Cite receipts, order confirmations, and email history wherever possible.
Keep a claims diary. Date, person, phone number, what was said. Colorado wildfire claims routinely take a year or more.
If unresolved, call the Division of Insurance. Colorado Division of Insurance: 303-894-7499 / 800-930-3745 (doi.colorado.gov).

8. Colorado contacts

Need	Contact
Emergency / report a fire	911
Colorado Div of Fire Prevention & Control	dfpc.colorado.gov
Colorado FAIR Plan (last-resort insurance)	coloradofairplan.com
Colorado Div of Insurance	303-894-7499 / 800-930-3745
FEMA Disaster Assistance	1-800-621-3362
Smoke / air quality	airnow.gov

Frequently asked questions

Official Colorado Resources

More wildfire resources

For the full preparedness, documentation, and claims playbook — plus other state guides as they roll out — see our main Wildfire Preparedness Guide.

Have your Colorado home file ready before you have to evacuate

Corbivo keeps a timestamped, cloud-stored record of your home and belongings — off your property, and ready the moment you file a wildfire claim.

Colorado wildfire preparedness — a calm, clear guide