Black Forest Fire case remains active 12 years later
On Tuesday, June 11, 2013, the fire broke out and burned for days until it was declared fully contained on Thursday evening, June 20.
The El Paso County Sheriff's Office (EPSO) has stated in the past that the Black Forest Fire was a 'cold case' due to the passage of time, with no new information. While the origin of the fire is known, the cause has not been determined.
FOX21 News reached out to EPSO on the eve of the fire anniversary for an update on the status of the case.
'This case remains active, and no further details can be released at this time,' said a spokesperson with EPSO.
Overall, the fire burned 14,280 acres, causing over $420 million in damage to the region. The total cost of fighting the fire was $9.23 million. The fire also claimed the lives of two people, Marck and Robin Hecklotz, who were both longtime members of Space Command and were killed when trying to leave their home in Black Forest.
At that time, the wildfire became the most destructive in Colorado's history, surpassing the Waldo Canyon Fire just a year earlier. Since then, the 2021 Marshall Fire in Boulder County became the most destructive.
D20 students to reforest a portion of Black Forest scar
Reforestation efforts continue in the Black Forest burn scar. Most recently, students from the Academy School District 20 (D20) partnered with the Colorado State Forest Service to plant 100 tree seedlings in the area.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
06-08-2025
- CBS News
How a Colorado woman used AI to save Marshall Fire survivors up to $2 million
After the Marshall Fire, the City of Louisville worked to put in rebate programs for survivors in an effort to make it easier for folks to rebuild and move back home. Now one neighbor is using AI to hold council to one of those rebate promises that could bring Marshall survivors a share of close to $2 million. More than three years later, the Marshall Fire continues to be a topic at city council meetings, and Tuesday was no different. But now, as the city voted on what money they could get back if there's ever a possible settlement, some residents are working to get back some of their own from the city. Tawnya Somauroo lost her home to the Marshall Fire and spent the time and money to rebuild, but doesn't have time for every city council meeting. "It's really hard to participate, like what happens in local government can be really important; its hard when you know you have a family, and a job, and meetings happen at dinner time for your kids," Somauroo said. But she wanted to get more involved, and she remembered that at some point in time in the last three years, the city council may have made a promise to pay back extra rebuilding permit fees to survivors. Those extra fees are now estimated to total between $800,000 and close to $2 million. "I saw the staff had told them that, you know, 'No, we never made this promise,'" Somauroo said, "I was like, that's not correct. So it's like me against, you know, a million videos." To prove she wasn't making it up, Somauroo put hundreds of hours of meetings into an AI program to check for anything the council ever said about these permit rebates. Somaruroo asked the AI program, "Did the council promise to return Marshall Fire permit profits to fire survivors?" adding, "I had to find this needle in the haystack." And as a result, the exact days, times, and related quotes all came up. On July 19, 2022, Deputy City Manager Megan Davis said in part, "City council has given staff direction to determine if the fees that we're collecting are in, you know, excess of the programs and services that are necessary to respond to the Marshall fire and the rebuilds associated with that and and if we find that there's, you know, any inconsistency there, then we can determine a way to rebate or pass on, you know, any discrepancy." Then again in that meeting, Ashley Stolzmann who was the mayor at the time says in part, "...make it clear that the we have given direction that we want the building fee program to cover the cost of building inspection and plan review, and that if there are savings, because so many people are going through this at the same time, we. Hope there are savings like that could be a silver lining in a terrible situation, that we will rebate those savings." In another meeting on Aug. 16, 2022, councilmember Maxine Most said, "I think there's a general consensus that if we find out that we get way more in permitting fees than we expected, I think there's consensus among the council that we're happy to give that money back." This June, Somauroo emailed all of this information to the city council, and last month they voted to look into back into the issue. Still, some council members like Mayor Pro Tem Caleb Dickinson want some limits on funds the city was already counting on, especially as 90% of homes are already in the rebuilding process. "It is a tough time to be thinking about giving a million dollars back when we're making budget cuts to some of our core services. So it's a tough moment, but we want to hold to that, that idea that these permits are meant to pay for service," Dickinson said. When divided amongst survivors, the rebates could give each family a few thousand dollars. When CBS Colorado Your Boulder County Reporter Sarah Horbacewicz asked Dickinson if he thought this topic would ever come back up without Somauroo's detailed AI report, he said, "No, honestly, I don't think so. I think we felt pretty whole. I think we felt like we made a really good choice about what we did, rebate, didn't rebate, and I think it felt it felt good to me personally, but it didn't feel good to others," also adding, "For us to hear that voice, that that's really important. We've heard both sides." And Somauroo hopes other residents will hear more from their city council, even if they don't have the time for their next meeting. "I hope people who aren't engaged and want an answer, you can go and ask questions," Somauroo said. The city says it plans to look into the rebate options over the next few months as it hopes to find a balance between keeping a promise and balancing next year's budget.
Yahoo
04-08-2025
- Yahoo
Survivors of devastating fire run into unexpected obstacle to recovery: 'There are still people in this community that are struggling to rebuild'
Survivors of devastating fire run into unexpected obstacle to recovery: 'There are still people in this community that are struggling to rebuild' More than three years after the Marshall Fire tore through Colorado, many of the people affected are still stuck in limbo, reported Denver7. At a gathering in Louisville, survivors shared that rebuilding has been more difficult than they could have ever imagined. Some people have had to leave their communities, and others are still living with financial stress and confusion about insurance. The wildfire, which destroyed over 1,000 homes and businesses, left people scrambling for help and answers in Boulder County, and now survivors are calling for major changes to the insurance system that was supposed to help them rebuild. They are asking for clearer policies, accountability, and support that meets the cost of rebuilding. "We had about 50% of the home dwelling coverage needed actually to rebuild our home," said Judi Kern, who lost her home in the fire and now serves on Louisville's City Council, per Denver7. What's happening? On July 8, around 50 Marshall Fire survivors met with state lawmakers to talk about how hard it's been to rebuild. Many say their insurance payouts fell short of the actual cost to replace a home. One study, which included University of Colorado Boulder researchers, found that 74% of policyholders were underinsured, and 36% were severely underinsured. Some survivors said their insurance companies paid out their policy in full, but still, it wasn't enough to rebuild. Others shared that they're still paying interest on mortgages for homes that no longer exist. "There are still people in this community that are struggling to rebuild," State Rep. Kyle Brown told Denver7. Why is the extreme weather concerning? Extreme weather events like the Marshall Fire are becoming more common and more destructive, much of which is fueled by the burning of dirty energy sources. The pollution from coal, oil, and gas traps heat, making wildfires worse and longer-lasting. This leads to more communities being at risk, and insurance companies are pulling back from covering those areas. Homeowners are more exposed and uncertain about the future. Without insurance, it's nearly impossible to rebuild and recover. After major fires in California and Colorado, many residents have faced the same uphill battle. According to a Vox report, insurers have declined coverage for millions in vulnerable regions over the last few years. Many homeowners have turned to the state's FAIR plan as a last resort. How concerned are you about the plastic waste in our oceans? Extremely I'm pretty concerned A little Not much Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. What's being done about insurance coverage? Colorado lawmakers created House Bill 25-1182, which requires insurance companies to be more transparent about wildfire risk scores and to consider steps homeowners have taken to reduce their risk. But lawmakers also warned that if regulations go too far, companies might stop offering coverage in the state altogether. The Colorado FAIR Plan, much like the California FAIR Plan, offers limited coverage to people who have had insurance denied by at least three carriers. Groups like Extreme Weather Survivors are working to connect disaster survivors across the country, providing support and pushing for reforms that protect people and not just profits. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
San Francisco Chronicle
03-07-2025
- San Francisco Chronicle
California, four other Western states launch probe into underinsurance following Chronicle investigation
A coalition of five states is investigating underinsurance among wildfire survivors after years of costly megablazes across the West, most recently in Los Angeles, and in the wake of a San Francisco Chronicle investigation that laid bare the depth of the issue. The states' goals are to share data and explore the possibility of either a national law or state-based regulatory reforms to address underinsurance, Lara told the state Assembly Insurance Committee at a Wednesday hearing. The group includes representatives from New Mexico, Colorado, Oregon and Washington state. It will also explore what types of information regulators could collect from insurance companies to determine how many people might be underinsured. 'We are gathering data and building our understanding of insurance gaps and how to reduce the prevalence of policyholders being underinsured after severe fire, something that all these states and their consumers have experienced after their fires,' Lara said. Underinsurance refers to the phenomenon where a policyholder's coverage limit — the maximum amount their policy will pay out — falls short of the total cost of rebuilding their home. While some people may choose to underinsure their home, studies show most policyholders believe they are fully insured and want to be adequately covered in the event of a disaster that destroys their dwelling. The Chronicle's investigation found that, for decades, insurance companies have relied on faulty algorithms to estimate how much their customers' homes would cost to rebuild from the ground up, then used those flawed figures to set policy limits for their customers. The most common tool, 360Value, is used by insurers representing at least 40% of California policyholders as well as across the country. Millions of homeowners across California are likely underinsured due in large part to the widespread adoption of these tools, which insurance agents often over-rely on and do not fill out carefully, the Chronicle investigation found. The Chronicle also found that nearly every state in the coalition had identified widespread underinsurance following at least one wildfire. In Colorado, researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder estimated that three-quarters of Marshall Fire survivors were underinsured; more than a third of those had policies that were short by 25% or more. It is the fifth time Lara has appeared before the committee since his Sustainable Insurance Strategy, a package of reforms aimed at making insurance more available, was announced more than a year ago. Assembly Member Dawn Addis, citing the Chronicle's reporting, asked Lara how he would make certain that insurance was both available and sufficient to protect policyholders against disaster. 'My big concern around underinsurance is right now we're having the very important conversation around can people get insurance or not. My big fear, and what I've heard from folks on the Central Coast is, I can get insurance but it's simply not enough insurance,' Addis told Lara. "That's part of our investigation,' Lara replied. He encouraged any consumers who have found out they're underinsured to submit a complaint to the California Department of Insurance to be used in the investigation. In response to the Chronicle's findings, California also began collaborating with researchers with the RAND Corporation and Ken Klein, a professor of law at California Western School of Law, to explore what data could be used to study underinsurance. After the hearing, Addis told the Chronicle she is encouraged to hear multiple states are looking into the issue but also concerned at how widespread underinsurance is across the West. 'To me it's a compelling reason to bring statewide legislation forward, the sooner the better. We know we're going to have more disasters. It's a piece we absolutely need to have our arms wrapped around as we try to stabilize the market,' Addis said. The coalition's formation is the latest in a series of actions taken in response to the Chronicle's reporting on underinsurance. In May, the California Board of Equalization — the state's agency tasked with property tax oversight — held an informational hearing into underinsurance inspired by the Chronicle's investigation. It then issued a slate of recommendations for potential regulatory or legislative action, including requiring insurance companies to provide stronger warnings to customers that their recommended coverage limits may not fully cover the cost of rebuilding. Plaintiffs attorneys have also filed major lawsuits against at least four insurance companies on behalf of underinsured policyholders in Altadena and Pacific Palisades. Many of the plaintiffs in these lawsuits had homeowners' policies that underestimated their rebuilding costs by $1 million or more. Lara said members of the nascent coalition had been meeting for several months prior to the announcement.
