Marshall Fire Recovery

Boulder County Public Health (BCPH) has strategically positioned up to 25 state-of-the-art air monitors throughout the Marshall Fire burn areas and in surrounding communities, including dedicated monitors at all affected schools, to provide instant, accurate information.

People living, working or traveling in and around the Marshall fire burn areas can opt-in for text and email alerts to access instant, real-time, air quality information 24/7 from 25 particulate monitors strategically positioned throughout areas affected by the Marshall fire and in the surrounding communities, including a dedicated monitor for all schools in burn areas.

The following are air quality resources for those impacted by the Marshall Fire:

Marshall Fire Air Quality Updates

Boulder County Air Quality Information

Town of Superior Air Quality Information

City of Louisville Air Quality Information

Colorado Air Quality Information

Ongoing Meetings

Virtual Energy Smart Weekly Office Hours
Incentives and Discounts, High Performance Building
Wednesdays, 5-6 p.m.
Register

Upcoming Meetings

How to select and work with a landscape designer
Tuesday, Oct. 4, 6:30 p.m.
Zoom – Registration required

What sort of design, material and installation discounts/rebates, grants, and income tax credits are available?
Monday, Oct. 10, 6:30 p.m.
Zoom – Registration required

How can the City of Louisville, Town of Superior, and Boulder County help you through the rebuild or remodeling process?
Tuesday, Oct. 11, 6:30 p.m.
Zoom – Registration required

Homeowners’ Insurance Stakeholder Meeting with the Division of Insurance
Thursday, Oct. 13, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Attendees must register via Zoom

Why now is the right time to install smart technology and how system integrators can make the process better
Thursday, Oct. 13, 6:30 p.m.
Zoom – Registration required

Build Forward Workshop and Expo
Saturday, Oct. 15
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Builders Workshops
4-8 p.m. – Public Expo and Open House
Superior Community Center, 1500 Coalton Road
Register – Admission for Marshall Fire affected homeowners is free
Schedule and Details

Why lighting and home wellness should not be an afterthought in your home design
Tuesday, Oct. 18, 6:30 p.m.
Zoom – Registration required

Xcel Energy Building Codes Support Program- Electrification & the IECC
Wednesday, Oct. 26, noon to 1 p.m.
Zoom- Registration is required

Tell Your Story – share and record your story about the Marshall Fire so it can be documented for the future
Saturday, Oct. 29 – sign up for an available time slot
Register

Xcel Energy Building Codes Support Program- 2021 Thermal Envelope
Wednesday, Nov. 23, noon to 1 p.m.
Zoom- Registration is required

Xcel Energy Building Codes Support Program- 2021 Lighting Controls
Wednesday, Dec. 28, noon to 1 p.m.
Zoom- Registration is required

Past Meetings

Videos: Previous Community Meetings and Fire Briefings

View United Policy Holder’s past events

• • Aug. 3, 2022 Rebuilding Better Workshop #3 – Maximizing Rebuilding Incentives
  • July 13, 2022 Rebuilding Better Workshop #2 – Materials and Equipment for a Resilient Rebuild video
  • June 16, 2022 Proposed changes to the Land Use Code related to Accessory Dwellings video and presentation.
  • June 1, 2022 Rebuilding Better Workshop #1 – Optimizing Comfort and Construction Cost Savings in Your New Home video
  • May 25, 2022 Rebuilding in Unincorporated Boulder County – DC-22-0003: Land Use Code text amendments related to Accessory Dwellings video and presentation
  • May 2, 2022 Department of Local Affairs – DOLA and Disaster Recovery presentation
  • May 2, 2022 Community Foundation Wildfire Fund Update presentation
  • April 11, 2022 Marshall Fire rebuilding BuildSmart energy efficiency presentation and video
  • March 29, 2022 Debris Removal Program Public Meeting video | presentation
  • March 28, 2022 Community Foundation Wildfire Fund Community Meeting and presentation
  • Feb. 9, 2022 Rebuilding in Unincorporated Boulder County presentation
  • Jan. 21, 2022 United Policyholders Meeting presentation
  • Jan. 21, 2022 Debris Removal and Road to Recovery presentation
  • Jan. 21, 2022 Boulder County Public Health presentation
  • Jan. 20, 2022 Disaster Toolkit Boulder County
  • Jan. 20, 2022 Martins’ Rebuilding After a Fire presentation
  • Jan. 20, 2022 Pellerin After the Fire Testimonial
  • Jan. 11, 2022 Marshall Fire Community Townhall – Elevations Credit Union webinar on mortgages, property taxes and other financial issues

Community Partners

Sister Carmen Community Center: Food assistance/food bank, financial assistance and thrift store vouchers, health and transportation services and more for residents of Lafayette, Louisville, Superior, and Erie. 655 Aspen Ridge Drive, Lafayette | 303-665-4342 or email marshallsupport@sistercarmen.org.

Emergency Family Assistance Association (EFAA): Food assistance/food bank and financial assistance available for utilities, rent or mortgage assistance for Boulder and southern mountain residents. 1575 Yarmouth Ave., CO 80304 | 303-442-3042

OUR Center: Food assistance and housing and rental assistance available for residents of the St. Vrain Valley School District, including the northern mountains. 220 Collyer St., Longmont. CO 80501| 303-772-5529

Detailed Marshall Fire damage assessment inspections have been conducted in the field, and damage assessment was completed Jan. 6, 2022. (Note that the Jan. 6 list is static.) To see the most up-to-date and current damage list, please view the countywide damage assessment map (searchable by address) at boco.org/MarshallFireDamageAssessmentMap.

To report any damage not shown on the damage assessment map, please contact your respective jurisdiction:

• Unincorporated Boulder County: MarshallRebuilding@bouldercounty.org
• City of Louisville: marshallfire@louisvilleco.gov
• Town of Superior: marshallfire@superiorcolorado.gov

The County’s Coordinated Debris Removal Program ended in August 2022. In just under four months, 566 properties from Louisville, Superior, unincorporated Boulder County were cleared of ash, debris, metal, concrete, and vegetation by the county’s contractor, DRC Emergency Services, LLC.

The Coordinated Debris Removal Program worked closely with the State of Colorado and FEMA and followed the guidelines set by FEMA’s Private Property Debris Removal (PPDR) program. By participating in this program, the county, town, and city are eligible for up to 95% reimbursement of costs (90% FEMA, 5% State of Colorado, 5% local municipality) used to pay for this effort. Without increased contributions from the federal, state, and local governments, many of those who lost their homes would have faced direct costs for debris removal in order to start the rebuilding effort. Typically, communities are responsible for 25% of the total cost, but the State of Colorado offered to cover 50% of the local share, and FEMA increased their share of coverage for this incident from 75% to 90%. This collaboration resulted in millions of dollars saved for each community, thereby reducing the local communities and individuals’ financial burden for the complex operation. We are greatly appreciative to our federal and state partners for this support, which is vital for our community’s economic recovery and protection of public health and safety through the debris removal process. We’d also like to thank the property owners who participated in the program.

The Disability & Disaster Hotline

• 800-626-4959 (call/text)
• Email: info@disasterstrategies.org

Disaster Distress Helpline for Deaf ASL Users

• 800-985-5990

Direct Contact for Older Adults & People with Disabilities

• 303-480-5652
• Email: edubray@drcog.org

Help for Medicaid Members

• CCHA Member Support Services at 303-256-1717.

Center for People with Disabilities

• 303-442-8662
• Email: info@cpwd.org

Donations

Donations can be made through Colorado Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD) and the Marshall ROC (Restoring Our Community). Register to donate online and list new or excellent-condition used items for residents, or items and services for affected businesses. An approved organization assisting in recovery efforts will claim the item for their location. Organizations are vetted through the Marshall ROC Donations Management Committee.

Monetary Donations

Donating funds are the most effective way to support those impacted by fires. Please go to the Boulder County Wildfire Fund, managed by the Community Foundation serving Boulder County: www.commfound.org/wildfirefund.

Federal Disaster Use Tax Rebate Program

Everyone who lost a home in either the Marshall or Cal-Wood Fires and is rebuilding on their affected property qualifies for the county’s $3,500 use tax rebate. The county estimates that the rebate will cover all or most of the county’s use tax for the majority of affected residents. To claim the rebate, property owners must file building permits within three years of the fires (by December 31, 2024 for Marshall Fire-impacted properties, and October 31, 2023 for Cal-Wood Fire-impacted properties.)

Use tax is charged for construction and tallied and paid when the building permit is issued. It is based on the projected valuation of the project as submitted by the builder.

Fiscal stewardship, equity and precedent considerations, simplicity of rebate application, rebate amount, program length, and administrative implications are among the factors that were taken into consideration during program design.

Due to the structure of the county’s finances and bonds that have been issued, the use tax cannot be waived by the county, which means the rebate will be funded through an estimated $3.85 million from the county’s general fund revenues.

The program applies only to the county’s use tax on residential properties. The county is aware that both the City of Louisville and the Town of Superior have or may determine to offer their own use tax relief to impacted property owners in those communities.

More information about the Federal Disaster Use Tax Rebate Program, including how to apply, will be available soon on the county’s Community Planning and Permitting Website.

FEMA Assistance for Residents & Businesses

Contact FEMA: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired.

Small Business Administration

The deadline to file for economic injury loans through the Small Business Administration (SBA) has been extended to September 30, 2022.

For more information, contact the SBA:

• www.disasterloanassistance.sba.gov
• Phone: 1-800-659-2955
• Email: disastercustomerservice@sba.gov

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

Special tax law provisions may help taxpayers and businesses recover financially from the impact of a disaster, especially when the federal government declares their location to be a major disaster area. Depending on the circumstances, the IRS may grant additional time to file returns and pay taxes. Both individuals and businesses in a federally declared disaster area can get a faster refund by claiming losses related to the disaster on the tax return for the previous year, usually by filing an amended return.

For more information from the IRS regarding assistance during a disaster, please visit IRS Disaster Assistance and Emergency Relief for Individuals and Businesses.

Post-Fire Smoke Impacts

If your house is still intact but was affected by smoke, please refer to How to Mitigate Post-Fire Smoke Impacts in Your Home by the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Staying Healthy After a Fire

• Do not disturb ash or debris from fires
• An N95 or equivalent mask is strongly recommended when you’re cleaning your home and if you’re outdoors in burn areas.
  • PLEASE NOTE: Most face coverings worn to protect against COVID-19 are not adequate to protect against the fine ash particles created by a fire.
• Wipe surfaces with a damp cloth and avoid harsh chemical cleaners – stick with soap and water.
• Only use vacuum cleaners with a HEPA filter.
• Take off your shoes before entering your home to avoid spreading ash.
• Get your HVAC ducts professionally cleaned as soon as you can.
  • Replace your HVAC filters as soon as they appear soiled.
  • Use the highest level of filtration recommended by the manufacturer.
  • Consider an activated carbon pre-filter to reduce odors.
• Test your fire and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure that they work properly.
• If you are using a combustion space heater, make sure you follow the manufacturer’s guidance for ventilation to prevent carbon monoxide exposure.
  • Never leave the house or sleep while combustion space heaters are operating.
• Thoroughly check all visible plumbing fixtures and piping for leaks and be alert for signs of broken pipes inside the walls – especially exterior walls.

Health Insurance

Connect for Health Colorado

The Disaster Relief Special Enrollment Period for those impacted by the Marshall Fire ended on March 16. However, you can still sign up for health insurance in 2022 through Connect for Health Colorado if you experience a Life Change Event such as marriage, the birth of a child, loss of coverage, and changes to income. See if you can still enroll through a Special Enrollment Period.

If you need assistance finding available health insurance, Boulder County Health Coverage Guides offer free, unbiased and confidential support. Schedule an appointment.

Medicaid and Child Health Plan Plus don’t have an open enrollment period, and may be applied for and enrolled in when eligible, throughout the year. Learn more.

Additional Resources

• Air & Water Quality After a Fire
• After the Disaster Guidebook
• Food Safety After a Fire
• How to Mitigate Post-Fire Smoke Impacts in Your Home
• Tetanus Risk & First Aid After a Fire
• Learn potential health impacts of exposure to wildfire smoke
• Learn how to safely clean up after a fire

Help for Renters and Landlords

The City of Boulder’s Community Mediation and Resolution Center can help renters and landlords navigate the impacts of the Marshall Fire. See their flyer, Tips for Landlords and Tenants in Navigating Rental Issues Following Wind and Fire Damage, for details or contact them at 303-441-4364 to find out about how they can help.

Community Partners

Help, including financial assistance, may also be available through community non-profit organizations such as Sister Carmen Community Center in Lafayette, EFAA in Boulder, and OUR Center in Longmont.

Property Insurance Coverage

If your property is damaged or destroyed, the guidance provided below will help you get started on the road to recovery, make good decisions, and keep moving forward:

• United Policyholders:
  • Marshall Fire insurance and recovery support
  • Additional Insurance Resources for Colorado
• Colorado Division of Insurance:
  • Marshall Fire Response
  • FAQs on Underinsurance
  • Guidelines for insurers handling claims resulting from the Marshall Fire
  • Consumer Advisory: Boulder County Fires – Improving Policyholders’ Experiences

Each insurance provider and policy is different, so be sure to reach out to your specific provider for more information about your coverage options for cleanup and the options for the future of your property.

Frequently Asked Insurance Questions

• Underinsurance: In response to the needs of those affected by the Marshall Fire, the Colorado Division of Insurance (the Division) has posted a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Underinsurance. The Division is aware that many homeowners impacted by the Marshall Fire are concerned that they may not be fully insured for partial or total losses, which is commonly referred to as “underinsurance.” These FAQs were developed based on questions the Division received during its January 4 town hall and questions Division staff have received at the Disaster Assistance Center.
• Additional Living Expenses: The Colorado Division of Insurance has posted a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Additional Living Expenses (ALE) coverage that is part of many homeowners and renters insurance policies. Also called “Coverage D – Additional Living Expenses (or Loss of Use),” the purpose of ALE is to help you if your home is a total loss or rendered uninhabitable due to damage.

Find more information about insurance and the Marshall Fire on the Division’s Marshall Fire Response website. You can reach the Division’s Consumer Services Team by calling 303-894-7490, or by sending an email to DORA_Insurance@state.co.us.

Bridge to Justice

Provides civil legal services for people who do not quality for legal aid, but are below the Area Median Income. Some services are free and some are charged at below market rates. Call: 303-443-1038

Boulder County Bar Association

Boulder County Bar Association will be operating a Disaster Legal Services (DLS) hotline, a federal disaster assistance program that provides free legal services to low-income individuals and businesses. The DLS hotline at 1-877-370-1216 operates Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit the Boulder Bar Association’s website at www.boulder-bar.org and fill out an intake form. They also provide free legal advice appointments with volunteer attorneys on a variety of issues. Apply online at www.boulder-bar.org/ or call 303-440-4758.

Boulder County Legal Services/Colorado Legal Services

Provides civil legal services to low-income and senior (60 and over) residents of Boulder county. Apply online at: www.coloradolegalservices.org/node/76/boulder-county-fire-help-available or call: 303-449-7575

Rocky Mountain Legal Center

Providing replacement or new estate planning documents at no cost for people affected by the Marshall Fire. Call: 720-242-8642.

One of the key lessons learned from previous wildfire and flood disasters is that these events can have a significant impact on an individual’s well-being. And it impacts everyone differently and at different times, sometimes right away and sometimes months later. Adults and children across the community who were impacted by the fires may experience normal stress response symptoms like mood swings, sleep disruption, and other stress reactions.

View steps you can take to ensure that you are taking care of your emotional needs during this time of crisis.

• American Psychological Association – Recovering Emotionally from Disaster
• Boulder Valley School District Updates & Resources
• Colorado Crisis Services at 1 (844) 493-8255, or text “TALK” to 38255, to speak with a professional counselor about any area where you could use support for yourself or a loved one, from loneliness and isolation, to stress, relationship issues, substance use and other common concerns.
• Community Health Workers – virtual team of Mental Health Partner’s providers who are available on Facebook
• CSU Extension – Coping with Natural Disasters
• Disability and Disaster Hotline – 1-800-626-4959 (call/text)
• Disaster Distress Hotline – 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746. A 24/7, 365-day-a-year, national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster.
• FEMA/Red Cross – Helping children cope with disaster
• I Matter: Offering free mental health sessions for any youth in the state, largely available via telehealth.
• Jewish Family Service and Community Foundation Boulder County have partnered to offer counseling services to Boulder County residents in response to the wildfires and the pandemic. JFS is also offering group sessions to reduce traumatic stress for those impacted by the Marshall Fire for adults and teens. Group sessions are both virtual and in-person for anyone impacted by the Marshall Fire, including those with damaged and destroyed homes, and those in close proximity to damaged areas.
• Mental Health Partners – 1-844-493-TALK (8255) available 24/7
• National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) – Services for traumatized children, their families and communities.
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-8255
• Ready.gov – Coping with Disaster
• Rise Against Suicide – 720-212-7527, free mental health therapy for young people 0-19
• SAMSHA Disaster Distress Hotline – 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746
• University of Colorado Boulder – Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS) 303-492-2277; Case Management
• Victim Advocate Line – 303-441-3656

The Boulder County Assessor’s Office is working to assist county residents reach a temporary fair market value for any home or real property that is destroyed or damaged by the Marshall Fire.

Learn more about how property values are being determined.

View information and resources on Marshall Fire Rebuilding and Repairs in Unincorporated Boulder County. See also proposed update to the Building Code (ignition resistant requirements for construction) in Wildfire Zone 2 (the eastern half of Boulder County).

For questions on Marshall Fire rebuilding in unincorporated Boulder County, please email MarshallRebuilding@bouldercounty.org. (View City of Louisville or Town of Superior rebuilding information.)

Sign up for the Rebuilding Better Newsletter

Rebuilding

Rebuilding Coordinators, help property owners navigate the rebuilding process and answer questions. They are assigned to each Marshall Fire property owner or their agent. To get connected to your assigned Rebuilding Coordinator, please email MarshallRebuilding@bouldercounty.org

Property owners who are rebuilding the same structure that was lost in the fire (i.e., original location and footprint, same floor area or smaller, same height or shorter) may move forward immediately and apply for a building permit, so long as they commit to rebuild with additional wildfire resiliency measures. Property owners who wish to make changes to the pre-existing structure may proceed under streamlined review (instead of Site Plan Review) if the modifications fall within the defined parameters. For more detailed information on rebuilding, please visit the Marshall Fire Rebuilding in Unincorporated Boulder County webpage.

BuildSmart

All new construction in Boulder County will need to adhere to the regulations within BuildSmart, the county’s building code requirements and energy efficiency code. Please contact building@bouldercounty.org to ask questions and learn more about BuildSmart and other building code requirements.

Additionally, EnergySmart, Boulder County’s residential energy advising service, offers free expert guidance on building a high-performance home to homeowners impacted by the Marshall Fire. To speak with an EnergySmart advisor:

• Call 303-544-1000
• Email info@EnergySmartYes.com.
• Register for time during their virtual office hours, Wednesdays from 5 – 6 p.m. Residents can join a Zoom call to get questions answered about the incentives that are available and how to access them, building science, construction strategies, specific material choices, and cost effectiveness.

RebuildingBetter.org provides resources for planning, designing, and constructing high-performance homes that are cleaner, more comfortable, and more resilient to climate change impacts.

Community Meetings

• • Jan. 19 Rebuilding in Unincorporated Boulder County Video
  • Feb. 9 Rebuilding in Unincorporated Boulder County Video
  • Feb. 9 Rebuilding in Unincorporated Boulder County Presentation
  • Feb. 23 Article 19 Provisions – Unincorporated Boulder County Video
  • Feb. 23 Article 19 Provisions – Unincorporated Boulder County Presentation
  • Feb. 23 Article 19 Provisions – Unincorporated Boulder County Meeting Summary
  • April 11, 2022 Marshall Fire rebuilding BuildSmart energy efficiency presentation and video recording
  • May 25, 2022 Rebuilding in Unincorporated Boulder County – DC-22-0003: Land Use Code text amendments related to Accessory Dwellings video recording and presentation

Resources

• BOCC-approved Land Use Code text amendments providing an allowance for an Accessory Dwelling to be built as part of Marshall Fire recovery (formal resolution coming soon)
• Resolution 2022-029, approving Land Use Code Docket DC-22-0001, effective March 29, 2022
• Rebuilding Guide: Marshall Fire Rebuilding in Unincorporated Boulder County
• FAQs from Jan. 19 Community Meeting on rebuilding in Unincorporated Boulder County
• Article 19 (Procedures Following Disasters) of the Land Use Code
• EnergySmart: Incentives, support, and education about building a high performance home

Boulder County, the City of Louisville, and the Town of Superior have been working collaboratively to assist those affected by the Marshall Fire and Wind Event on Dec. 30, 2021. View a list that highlights those milestones made to date.

Residents impacted by the Marshall Fire and straight-line wind events of Dec. 30, 2021 are invited to meet in-person or virtually with Recovery Navigators.

This free service, offered through the Navigating Disaster for Boulder County program, will offer long and short-term support to help residents navigate the recovery and rebuilding process. Navigators will be assigned to individuals and families and work one-on-one to provide a broad array of support, including referrals to human service agencies and organizations, comprehensive recovery planning resources, financial resources for rebuilding, and mental health services. Navigators can also help fill out forms and connect residents with legal and insurance claims advisors, volunteers, and other experts.

Vital Records

Scams & Fraud

Be cautious about scams and fraud after a disaster. Use these resources to protect yourself.

• Boulder County District Attorney’s Office – Community Protection Division
  • Marshall Fire Scams and Resources information sheet
• File a complaint – Colorado Attorney General’s Office
• FEMA – Be alert to fraud after a disaster
• Stop Fraud Colorado

The Sheriff’s Office has information available regarding the Marshall Fire focusing on topics such as emergency alerts, 9-1-1 dispatch, body worn camera videos, etc. View the Sheriff’s Office Marshall Fire website.

Results from testing conducted by Boulder County Public Health (BCPH) in areas affected by the Marshall fire show the levels of metals and asbestos in the soil do not pose a significant health risk and are, in most cases, consistent with surrounding areas that were not impacted by the fire. View the complete results.

Louisville Soil Testing Updates

Assessing the Safety of your Garden After a Fire – flowchart

Weed Management After a Fire – FAQs

Land Management After a Fire – FAQs (from the Calwood Fire)

Please visit the Marshall Fire-Related Transportation and Transit Resources page for up-to-date information regarding transportation resources for those affected by the Marshall Fire.

Please see Information for Displaced Voters for detailed options on updating your voter registration if you have been displaced by the Marshall Fire.

Water Quality by Location

Boulder County Water Quality Information

• Wells
• Septic

Louisville Water Quality Information

Superior Water Quality Information