Wildfires

Most Colorado homeowners do not have enough insurance coverage to rebuild their house after a total loss. That’s according to our new research examining whether homes destroyed in Colorado’s Marshall Fire — which burned more than 1,000 houses in suburban Boulder County — have been rebuilt.

The American West has seen the number of structures lost in wildfires more than triple in recent decades. But new research shows that home hardening measures can significantly increase a home’s chances of survivability during a wildfire.

New research shows that wildfires are a major contributor to ozone pollution, and can significantly exceed the impacts of human-generated emissions.

When conditions allow for it to be done safely, research strongly suggests that land managers should let some fires burn to reduce the risk of catastrophic blazes. But making that decision can be complicated. A new study highlights ways to incentivize that often difficult call.

Fires are an important part of nearly every ecosystem. They help clear out dead plant matter, which stimulates nutrient-rich growth. The survival and reproduction of species adapted to fire are important.

The federal grants are focused on reducing risk in areas where people live near forests.

In June, the Trump administration called for a consolidation of federal wildfire agencies “to achieve the most efficient and effective use of wildland fire offices.” Now federal leaders have released plans about how to carry out the order.

Recent fires have affected CPW’s approach to licenses, as some hunters have been offered the opportunity to return tags for refunds and have their preference points restored.

The federal government has issued new guidelines to wildland firefighters for the voluntary use of protective masks. The move comes as knowledge of long-term health risks faced by such workers – including cancer – grows.

In the wake of devastating Western wildfires, bills began cropping up in state legislatures — all striving to limit utility companies' liability for causing wildfires.