From The New Yorker · Eric Klinenberg · · 3m
What It Takes to Save a Town from Wildfire
A Colorado town's wildfire survival depends on community-wide fire-resistant measures and insurance reforms.
In brief
A Colorado town's wildfire survival depends on community-wide fire-resistant measures and insurance reforms. Boulder's Marshall Fire destroyed homes, but community-led fire mitigation and insurance innovations show how neighborhoods can become wildfire-resistant. Originally reported by The New Yorker.
Larry Donner's Move to Safety
Larry Donner, a retired fire chief, moved from Boulder to Louisville, Colorado, in 1991 to avoid wildfire risks.
Donner's Fire-Resistant Home
Donner installed fire-resistant siding, a Class A roof, and cleared vegetation around his house to protect it from wildfires.
2021 Wildfire Conditions
In 2021, wet springs and dry falls created grasses four or five feet tall, turning into a 'field of matchsticks, chest high' that fueled wildfires.
The Marshall Fire Ignites
On December 30th, 2021, a windstorm ignited the Marshall Fire, spreading rapidly across dry grassland at the speed of wind.
Donner's Home Burns
Donner and his wife saw their home burn after embers entered the attic through unshielded vents, destroying the house top-down.
Wildfire Spread to Suburbs
The Marshall Fire destroyed over a thousand structures, including homes in Louisville, Colorado, and left many residents with uninhabitable smoke-damaged properties.
Fire Ecologist's Warning
Jennifer Balch, a fire ecologist, explains that wildfires in the wildland-urban interface (wui) spread like infectious diseases, requiring community-wide protection for herd immunity.
Fast Fires Cause More Damage
Fast-growing wildfires, which account for almost ninety per cent of structures damaged, are becoming more common in the West due to climate change.
Insurance Crisis in Fire Zones
Insurance premiums for homes in high-risk areas have soared, with many residents forced to rely on state-run FAIR plans with limited coverage.
Nancy Watkins' Mitigation Project
Nancy Watkins, an insurance actuary, led a community-wide fire mitigation project to reduce wildfire risks and improve insurance affordability.
Dixon Trail Community
Dixon Trail, a new development in San Diego, meets I.B.H.S. wildfire preparedness standards with fire-resistant landscaping and structures.
Fire-Resistant Home Features
Fire-resistant homes include double-paned windows, metal gutters, ember shields, and a five-foot perimeter free of vegetation.
Community Mitigation Challenges
Achieving herd immunity in neighborhoods requires eighty-five per cent compliance with fire safety measures, which is difficult without financial incentives.
Berkeley's EMBER Ordinance
Berkeley implemented the EMBER ordinance, requiring a five-foot ember-resistant buffer around buildings and six feet of clearance between roofs and trees.
Boulder's Land Management
Boulder uses grazing and mowing to manage grasslands, creating fire-resistant perimeters up to one hundred feet from homes.
Community Resilience After Fire
Tawnya Somauroo rebuilt her home with fire-resistant features and formed a community Slack group to share resources during recovery.
The key point
Boulder's Marshall Fire destroyed homes, but community-led fire mitigation and insurance innovations show how neighborhoods can become wildfire-resistant.
