Wildfire recovery in Colorado: cleanup, demolition, insurance, rebuilding

The sequence

1. Safety and documentationRe-enter when the county clears it. Photos and video before anything is moved.
2. Open the claimGet the claim number. Everything after references it.
3. StabilizeTarping, board-up, fencing — covered mitigation. Keep receipts.
4. Enroll in the debris programBefore touching debris.
5. Demolish — permittedUtilities capped, permit in hand.
6. Excavate and recover the siteFoundation evaluation, grading, erosion control, access.
7. Permit the rebuildLike-for-like fast track or modified plan.
8. Build to today's codeThe Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code now governs WUI rebuilds.
9. Close outFinal inspections, recoverable depreciation released, warranty in writing.

First 72 hours

Nothing starts until officials clear re-entry. Burn areas hide hot spots, weakened trees, unstable structures, and toxic ash.

Once you're in: document before you touch. Every elevation, every room, video of the lot. Contents count — a burned garage full of tools is a contents claim, and carriers pay on documentation. Even an ash field is worth photographing.

Then open the claim. Write down the claim number and the desk adjuster's name. If the home is unlivable, ask about ALE (Additional Living Expenses) on the same call — lodging, meals above normal, mileage. Keep every receipt, starting with the hotel you're standing in.

How the money works

Most Colorado homeowner policies are replacement cost (RCV). Fire claims on them pay twice: actual cash value first, then recoverable depreciation as the rebuild completes. Don't leave the second check unclaimed.

• Debris removal is usually its own provision in the claim. Government cleanup programs often coordinate with carriers — ask before paying out of pocket.
• Supplements are normal. Heat and smoke damage surfaces during demo; the scope isn't final until the site is open.
• The deductible is yours. Colorado law prohibits contractors from paying, waiving, or rebating it. Anyone offering to is breaking the law.
• Mortgage on the property? The lender is on the checks. Start endorsement the week the first check arrives.

We scope in Xactimate — the same software carriers price with — and reconcile line by line with the adjuster. Full process: how an insurance rebuild works.

Debris removal and demolition

1. Enroll before you haulCounties run debris programs after major fires. Self-hauling before enrollment can cost you eligibility. Free volunteer help for the Aspen Acres burn area: Crisis Cleanup, (970) 283-7325.
2. Permit the demoRequired before wreckage comes down, utilities verified capped. Pueblo County: flat $100 for fire-impacted Aspen Acres properties.
3. Protect what survivedWells, septic, retaining walls, outbuildings — flagged and fenced before equipment moves.
4. Treat ash as hazardousStructure ash carries heavy metals and, in older homes, asbestos. Programs test for it.

One more documentation pass before the excavator arrives — the adjuster's file should show the site as the fire left it.

Excavation and site recovery

• Burned foundations usually don't survive. Fire heat degrades concrete; an engineer's evaluation decides, and carriers pay for replacement when it fails. Assume evaluation, not reuse.
• The ground changed. Burned roots, ash fill, and heat-affected soils move — grading and compaction put buildable ground back under the footprint.
• Burn scars flood. Erosion control and drainage belong in the site plan. Flood damage after the fire is a separate claim — document it as one.
• Access is scope too: driveways, culverts, hazard trees on the way in.

Permits

1. Like-for-like fast trackSame footprint, same use. Pueblo County's Aspen Acres reviews are running 2–3 weeks.
2. Modified planNew footprint, height, or use: full review, 6–10 weeks, plus HOA or metro-district sign-off where applicable.

Each disaster we mobilize for gets a permits page with the jurisdiction decoded — see Aspen Acres permits. We run the permit path; owners don't stand in those lines.

The new wildfire code

The Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code (SB23-166) is now enforceable: WUI jurisdictions had until April 1, 2026 to adopt it and July 1, 2026 to enforce it. Post-fire rebuilds are built to the current code, even where the original home predated it.

In practice: Class A roofing, ember-resistant vents, noncombustible or ignition-resistant exteriors and decks, defensible space. Many carriers give premium credits for exactly these features, and if your policy has ordinance & law coverage, code-required upgrades belong in the claim — we flag that during scoping. Full breakdown: the CWRC guide.

If your home survived

Harden it before the next one. The near-home zone does the most: noncombustible ground cover in the first five feet, ember-resistant vents, clean gutters, screened decks. The checklists are free: Colorado State Forest Service, IBHS, Ready.gov.

One contractor or five?

A full recovery touches demo, excavation, well and septic, foundation, framing, finish. You can hire each separately and hold the schedule and paperwork together yourself. Or one licensed GC is accountable for the whole arc: one scope reconciled with the adjuster, one schedule, one warranty, one number to call. That's how this hub runs — a named coordinator from intake to closeout.

Active recoveries

• 2026 Aspen Acres Fire — Custer and Pueblo counties
• 2026 Big Sheep Fire — Huerfano County
• All disasters, active and archived

Common questions

Can I clean up before the insurance adjuster sees the damage?

Document first — photos and video before anything moves. Emergency mitigation (tarping, board-up) is fine and covered; keep receipts. Don't haul debris before enrolling in the county program and permitting the demo.

Who pays for debris removal after a wildfire in Colorado?

Usually your policy's debris provision, plus county, state, or federal programs after declared disasters — and those often coordinate with carriers. Enroll first; ask your carrier before paying out of pocket.

Do I need a permit to demolish a fire-damaged house?

Generally yes, with utilities verified capped first. Pueblo County: flat $100 for fire-impacted Aspen Acres properties.

Does my insurance company choose my contractor?

No. In Colorado you choose your contractor. Carrier vendor lists are optional.

Can I rebuild bigger or different than what burned?

Yes. Insurance covers like-for-like; changes go through a modified-plan permit and you pay the difference — priced before you commit.

How long does a wildfire rebuild take in Colorado?

Typically 8–14 months from claim to closeout for a single-family home, driven by scope agreement and the permit pathway.

Does the new wildfire code apply to my rebuild?

In adopting WUI jurisdictions, yes — rebuilds are permitted under current code. See the CWRC guide and check with your building department.

What if my insurance isn't enough to rebuild?

Complete the scope first — supplements and ordinance & law coverage close real gaps. Beyond the policy: FEMA and state programs, and United Policyholders.

Start your rebuild or call 719-460-0433

Sources: Pueblo County Aspen Acres recovery resources · Colorado DHSEM · Colorado State Forest Service · IBHS · Ready.gov · United Policyholders. County fees, review times, and hotlines reflect published county information as of September 2, 2026; the live links govern.