Fourmile Fire Insurance Losses Exceed $200 Million

A preliminary report on the 2010 Fourmile Canyon wildfire in Boulder County shows insured losses exceeded $200 million, and the fire spread fast and burned intensely due to the area it was in and the large amount of vegetation.

The fire, considered one of the most destructive in state history, destroyed 168 homes. Researchers found that the condition of the home ignition zone-design, materials and maintenance of the home and the area 100 feet around it-were critical to whether a home survived the fire. A portion of the report contains a 2007 survey, which had included 127 of the landowners who were evacuated during the Fourmile Canyon Fire. They and others were surveyed regarding their perceptions of their wildfire risk and mitigation efforts.

While most respondents were familiar with wildfire risk, most did not believe that characteristics of their home and immediate surroundings were significant factors influencing the likelihood of a wildfire damaging their property within the next five years.