What is expected to be a long and arduous process that could take up to a decade to complete is now underway in Boulder County, Colorado.
More than 1,100 structures were destroyed at a cost of at least $513 million as the result of two grass fires that broke out in the towns of Louisville and Superior between December 30 and January 1.
In the month and a half since that disaster, contractors, and insurance adjusters, among others, have been appraising the damage, while an array of local, state, and federal agencies have provided relief to the more than 35,000 people impacted by the fire.
“We are committed to working with Boulder County,” Colorado Governor Jared Polis has remarked in an exclusive interview. “We want to make sure that the state can help with that and have had conversations with legislators about funding.”
An $80 million bill just approved by Colorado lawmakers funding schools and the state’s healthcare system also includes $5 million to the fire’s victims, while also paying for new firefighter equipment.
Meanwhile, according to published reports, homeowners are looking at the potentially staggering costs of rebuilding, with some estimates suggesting that prices may be double or triple the pre-fire market value of the homes.
The Home Builders Association of Denver has set up a Marshall Fire Rebuilding Task Force, providing information on state aid, insurance, and the importance of vetting contractors.
In an interview with the Denver Gazette, Steve Erickson, head of the task force, urged residents to “ask the potential contractor for references, licensing, proof of liability insurance, and workman’s compensation, as well as Better Business Bureau records.”
By Garry Boulard
