wildfire
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Senate, House pass bills that seek to prevent wildfires in Colorado
The Colorado legislature this week approved several bills that seek to prevent wildfires as the state faces what experts say could be the state’s worst wildfire season in history. On Tuesday, the state Senate approved House Bill 1132, which requires all controlled burns on private property to be reported to local fire departments. In the…
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Neguse presses for higher pay for wildland firefighters
U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse, along with several House colleagues, is urging Congress to raise the pay for federal wildland firefighters as they battle tinder-dry conditions across the country, particularly in the West. In Colorado, experts say the conditions have cranked up April’s fire risk to what the state would normally see in the summer. In…
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Q&A: Colorado Division of Insurance Commissioner Michael Conway
Just days after the most destructive wildfire in Colorado’s history, Colorado Division of Insurance Commissioner Michael Conway called a virtual town hall for the hundreds of victims who lost their homes in Boulder County. The Marshall fire burned more than 6,000 acres between Louisville and Superior on Dec. 30, destroying almost 1,100 homes and businesses…
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Two years of drought in Colorado has turned April into June for fire danger
After two years of drought, the grasses, shrubs and trees are tinder dry in El Paso County and across the state, cranking up the April fire risk to what the state would normally see in summer. “This is looking more like the middle of June as far as the fuels and the fire danger indices…
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House OKs wildfire mitigation grant program, tax credit for Colorado homeowners
As Colorado faces what experts say could be the state’s worst wildfire season in history, lawmakers are seeking to incentivize wildfire mitigation efforts. The state House passed House Bill 1007 on Friday, which would create a grant program for organizations that conduct wildfire mitigation outreach in hazard areas. The bill would also extend an existing…
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Colorado announces millions in funding to prepare for what could be the worst wildfire season in history
Colorado will pour nearly $20 million of federal funding into fire prevention this year ahead of what could be the worst fire season in the state’s history, officials announced on Friday. On the same day, the state House passed House Bill 1007, which would create a grant program for organizations that conduct wildfire mitigation outreach in…
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NCAR fire was human-caused, investigators seek tips
Investigators have determined that the NCAR fire was human caused, and the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public for help in identifying a suspect. The blaze ignited March 26 near Bear Canyon Trail along the Boulder Open Space Mountain Parks property south of the National Center for Atmospheric Research. The fire caused thousands of people…
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Colorado legislature passes insurance coverage expansions for wildfire losses
Victims of wildfires in Colorado may soon get more immediate and substantive help from insurance companies under statutory changes the Colorado legislature approved Wednesday. If signed into law, House Bill 1111 would increase the amount of lost property insurance providers have to cover upfront and extend the timeframe victims have to rebuild their homes. The…
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NCAR fire in Boulder 100% contained
The NCAR fire is 100% contained, Boulder Fire Rescue announced Thursday afternoon. Fire officials said smoke may still be visible because there could be portions of the fire that are still smoldering. “Please note: 100% containment does not mean that the fire is completely ‘out,’” fire officials wrote on Twitter. “As always, if you see…
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Marshall fire investigation expected to take ‘several more months,’ authorities say
Three months after the state’s most destructive fire destroyed nearly 1,100 homes in Boulder County, authorities announced on Thursday that the investigation is ongoing and expected to take “several more months.” The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office said it’s been working with experts from across the United States to thoroughly analyze evidence and identify the possible…