Many Colorado residents are unaware they’re now at risk from wildfires because federal and state wildfire forecasts and maps haven’t kept pace with the increased danger.
A 🧵 👇
A 🧵 👇
2/ The December 2021 #MarshallFire showed Colorado and the West that fire danger is no longer limited to homes next to forests. Even urban areas are threatened.
But Colorado is one of only 8 states without a minimum construction standard for homes.
propublica.org/article/colora…
But Colorado is one of only 8 states without a minimum construction standard for homes.
propublica.org/article/colora…
3/ Some of America’s fastest-growing areas are in arid Western states prone to wildfires.
Between 1990-2020, the number of new homes built in Colorado’s wildland-urban interface areas more than doubled..
propublica.org/article/colora…
Between 1990-2020, the number of new homes built in Colorado’s wildland-urban interface areas more than doubled..
propublica.org/article/colora…
4/ An early warning came in 2001, when @USDA and other federal agencies identified many Colorado municipalities adjacent to public lands as being at high risk of a wildland blaze-turned-urban conflagration.
Some of these areas burned in the Marshall Fire.
Some of these areas burned in the Marshall Fire.
5/ Colorado Springs took the warnings seriously.
In 2002, it banned wood roofs on all new homes and in roof repairs of certain sizes.
The Waldo Canyon fire in 2012 could have been much worse had the city not been preparing for years before.
In 2002, it banned wood roofs on all new homes and in roof repairs of certain sizes.
The Waldo Canyon fire in 2012 could have been much worse had the city not been preparing for years before.
6/ And after Waldo Canyon, the city updated its code to increase the distance trees had to be from homes.
It also required fire protection systems, ignition-resistant siding and decks, and double-paned windows for all new or reconstructed homes in hillside areas.
It also required fire protection systems, ignition-resistant siding and decks, and double-paned windows for all new or reconstructed homes in hillside areas.
7/ But efforts to enact statewide changes have failed.
Attempts by the Colorado legislature to make homes safer by requiring fire-resistant materials in their construction have been repeatedly stymied by developers and municipalities.
Attempts by the Colorado legislature to make homes safer by requiring fire-resistant materials in their construction have been repeatedly stymied by developers and municipalities.
8/ Meanwhile, taxpayers shoulder the growing cost to put out the fires and rebuild in their aftermath.
9/ The insurance industry, which favors a statewide building code, is warning that more disasters will lead to ever higher premiums, putting home insurance out of reach for many.
10/ There’s a chance this could all change with the 2023 legislative session.
But one indicator that history is repeating: A recent @COStateFire report noted that wooden fences next to grasslands had accelerated the #MarshallFire, sending flames from grass straight to homes.
But one indicator that history is repeating: A recent @COStateFire report noted that wooden fences next to grasslands had accelerated the #MarshallFire, sending flames from grass straight to homes.
11/ Reporter @jennoldham drove through the burn zone recently, where new homes are being built.
With the same kinds of fences.
There’s no building code requiring that the fences be made from fire resistant materials.
With the same kinds of fences.
There’s no building code requiring that the fences be made from fire resistant materials.
12/ Read more about where Colorado finds itself from @jennoldham and @lhwaldron in @ProPublica: propublica.org/article/colora…
13/ And subscribe to our Big Story newsletter to get emailed when we publish our biggest investigations: propublica.org/newsletters/th…
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