Colorado bill would address damage from wildfire smoke

By Avery Ellfeldt | 05/06/2024 06:17 AM EDT

A growing issue for homeowners and insurers are homes that survive wildfire flames but are still affected by smoke, soot and ash.

Todd Lovrien looks over damage from the 2021 Marshall Fire at his sister's home in Louisville, Colorado.

Todd Lovrien looks over damage from the 2021 Marshall Fire at his sister's home in Louisville, Colorado. Jack Dempsey/AP

Colorado’s 2021 Marshall Fire tore through Boulder County and destroyed more than 1,000 homes — cementing its place as one of the worst disasters in state history.

What got less attention was the fate of hundreds of other properties in the surrounding area.

The homes were still standing, but they were contaminated by smoke, soot and ash. The impurities displaced some families for months — and others for years.

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That’s due in part to ongoing disputes between Colorado homeowners and their insurance companies over how much damage the homes sustained — and what it would take to ensure they are safe to live in.

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