Wildfire Risk in Denver, CO
Denver’s urban core sits on the high plains with low direct wildfire risk — but the December 2021 Marshall Fire just northwest proved that wind-driven grass fire can level suburbs in the metro’s WUI in any season.
Risk Score
18/100
Low Risk
Wildfire hazard in Denver
Denver, Colorado is rated Low risk (18/100). Denver carries a comparatively low wildfire-hazard rating, but “low” is never “none” in the West (a 18/100 FireRisk). the USFS Wildfire Risk to Communities model rates the risk to structures here as Minimal, FEMA’s National Risk Index rates it Not available. Federal records show 14 wildfires within 25 miles since 2000 — the closest, the CORMR-FY19-RX-4AB (2019), burned about 7.7 miles away. Risk varies dramatically block to block, so the map shows the area while your exact address determines your true score.
Get the full report for your address →About wildfire risk in Denver
Fire history
The city proper has no major wildfire history, but the December 30, 2021 Marshall Fire destroyed more than 1,000 homes in the suburbs northwest of Denver — the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history — and grass fires recur on the metro’s plains-and-foothill edges. The hazard is the suburban WUI, not downtown.
Terrain & fuels
Cured shortgrass prairie on the eastern plains and the foothill-shrub WUI on the western suburban edge carry the risk; powerful Chinook downslope winds can drive fast grass fires into developed areas, while the urban core itself is low-hazard.
Insurance outlook
Front Range grass-fire losses since 2021 have tightened metro underwriting; the new Colorado FAIR Plan (2025) backstops homes declined by admitted carriers, especially on the foothill and prairie edges.
Local programs & resources
- Colorado FAIR Plan. State insurer of last resort (launched 2025) for homeowners unable to obtain admitted coverage.
Fire history near Denver
14 federally recorded wildfires (2000–2024) within 25 miles. The closest is CORMR-FY19-RX-4AB (2019), 7.7 miles away. Tap any fire for quick facts.
Where this score falls
This score plotted on the full wildfire-risk scale.
Risk varies block to block in Denver
This score is for the area. Your street, slope, and defensible space change it a lot — check your exact address for a free, instant home-level score, map, and report.
What Denver wildfire risk means for your insurance
Total potential savings
$2,869/yr
Across 11 programs you may qualify for
$729recurring/yr
$10,700one-time grants
IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home™ (CO Carrier Discounts)
10–25% premium reductionState Farm, Farmers, and Allstate Colorado offer among the highest IBHS discounts in the nation due to elevated WUI premiums after the Marshall and East Troublesome fires. Average CO WUI homeowner saves $600–900/yr on a $4,000–5,000 annual premium.
✓ Colorado WUI homeowners — confirm specific discount amount with your carrier before certifying
IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home™ Discount
5–25% premium reductionThe gold standard for wildfire home ratings. Major carriers (State Farm, Farmers, Nationwide, Allstate) offer 5–25% discounts for IBHS certification. A third-party inspector grades your home on five systems: roof, vent, deck, wall, and window glazing. Half-day inspection, long-lasting payoff.
✓ WUI homeowners nationwide — confirm discount with your carrier before scheduling inspection
Firewise USA Community Discount
5–15% premium reductionResidents of NFPA-recognized Firewise USA communities qualify for discounts from State Farm, Farmers, and many regional carriers. Over 1,600 communities are recognized nationwide. Check firewise.org/find-a-firewise-community to see if yours qualifies.
✓ Residents of officially recognized Firewise USA communities — verify with your carrier
Documented Defensible Space Discount
5–12% premium reductionMost WUI carriers offer standalone discounts for documented Zone 1, 2 & 3 clearance — no full IBHS cert required. Submit dated before/after photos plus a contractor invoice or county assessment letter to your agent.
✓ Contact your carrier — requires written documentation of Zone 1 (0–5ft), Zone 2 (5–30ft), and Zone 3 (30–100ft) clearance
Class A Fire-Rated Roofing Discount
3–8% premium reductionMetal, concrete tile, or Class A composition shingles eliminate ember ignition from above and qualify for carrier discounts in all wildfire states. Provide your carrier a letter from the roofing contractor confirming the UL Class A rating.
✓ New or recently replaced roofs — ask your carrier for their fire-rating documentation requirements
Home Hardening & Fire-Resistant Materials Discount
3–12% premium reductionDocumenting fire-resistant upgrades — fiber cement siding, metal gutters, dual-pane tempered windows, enclosed eaves, and 1/16" ember-resistant vents — can qualify for additional carrier discounts. Bundle with defensible space docs for maximum combined discount.
✓ Ask your carrier for their home hardening checklist and documentation requirements
CO Wildfire Mitigation Tax Credit (CRS 39-22-543)
Up to $2,500 (25% of expenses)Colorado's 25% tax credit on qualified wildfire mitigation expenses covers defensible space, home hardening, and fuels reduction. The credit can be carried forward up to 5 years. File with CO Form DR 1303. See tax.colorado.gov for eligible expense categories.
✓ Colorado residents with qualifying mitigation expenses — verify current year limits at tax.colorado.gov
USDA NRCS EQIP Fuels Reduction Grant
Up to $150,000 (agricultural)USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service pays 50–75% of wildfire-related conservation work (prescribed burns, thinning, silvopasture) on rural/agricultural land through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. Application windows open annually in fall at local NRCS service centers.
✓ Agricultural producers and rural landowners — find your office at nrcs.usda.gov
CSFS Cost-Share Grant (50% reimbursement)
Up to $5,000Colorado State Forest Service reimburses 50% of defensible space and fuels reduction costs. Front Range CSFS districts (Jefferson, Larimer, El Paso) frequently exhaust funds by Q2 — apply in January. Rural districts may have more availability.
✓ Colorado private landowners — contact your CSFS district at csfs.colostate.edu
USDA Forest Service State Fire Assistance
Varies (state forestry passthrough)USDA Forest Service allocates State Fire Assistance (SFA) grants to every state forestry agency, which then distributes them as cost-share programs and grants to private landowners. This is the funding backbone for most state-level wildfire programs listed below.
✓ Apply through your state's forestry agency — universally available in all 50 states
County Mitigation Rebate Programs
$500–2,500 (varies by county)Boulder County's Wildfire Partners, Jefferson County's Wildfire Adapted Partnership, and programs in Larimer and El Paso counties offer free assessments and rebates for completed mitigation work. Jefferson County provides up to $2,500.
✓ Check your county emergency management or local fire district website for current status
Savings are estimates. Verify current amounts with your insurance carrier, CSFS district office, or tax professional before committing to work.
What wildfire risk does to this home's value
Beyond premiums, wildfire risk is capitalized into market value — buyers pay less for homes that cost more to insure and carry a disclosed hazard. Adjust the value below to estimate the impact on a low-risk home.
Estimated value impact
No measurable discount
At this risk level, research finds little to no wildfire-related effect on market value — and historically a slight premium in some low-risk areas.
Insurance carrying cost
$0/yr
Estimated added wildfire premium. Capitalized at a 7% rate, that recurring cost alone reduces value by about $0 — the mechanism behind much of the discount.
Market & disclosure discount
none
Peer-reviewed CA data finds homes with a disclosed wildfire hazard sell for ~4–6% less; Redfin finds high-risk ZIPs now trade at a discount after years of slower appreciation.
Estimate, not an appraisal. Modeled from your risk tier and an adjustable home value, using insurance-cost capitalization and published wildfire price-discount research (Land Economics 2024 / RFF; GAO-26-107867; Redfin; Eastman-Kim 2024). Individual homes vary with hardening, views, and local demand. Methodology & sources on the methodology page.
Low risk — but embers travel up to a mile.
Documenting your defensible space now locks in the best available rates and protects your coverage if your area reclassifies.
What happens if you wait
High-risk homeowners have faced steep rate increases in recent years. Non-standard market policies — when you can find them — often cost substantially more.
Insurers have filed hundreds of thousands of non-renewals in fire-risk areas in recent years. Notices typically arrive ~60 days before expiration.
IBHS-certified homes may qualify for premium reductions with participating carriers. Discounts vary by carrier, state, and property.
Research suggests homes with elevated fire risk can sell below comparable homes, as buyers price in insurance cost. Individual results vary.
See your options before rates change.
We compare wildfire-specialist carriers licensed in Colorado — including ones that still write low-risk homes — to find who covers you and what they charge. Free, no obligation.
$729/yr — typical savings when Colorado homeowners compare carriers.
“My insurer didn’t renew me after 11 years. FireRisk matched me with two carriers that same week — saving $2,100 a year now.”
Sarah K. · Boulder, CO · previously High Risk
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Lower your wildfire risk in Denver
Get a certified fire mitigation contractor in Colorado
We connect you with vetted, locally-licensed crews who do the physical work that lowers your risk score — and document it so your insurer and Colorado's grant programs recognize it.
What your contractor handles
On-site evaluation of all three zones, documented to insurer and state standards.
Ladder-fuel removal, tree limbing, and brush clearing by trained crews.
Ember-resistant vents, gutter guards, and Zone 1 non-combustible retrofits.
Documentation that unlocks carrier discounts and state grant reimbursements.
Book a free defensible space assessment
Most certified contractors assess at no cost. The visit documents your property to the standard insurers require — and 1 of your recommended actions qualify for Colorado grant or rebate funding.
$0
assessment
✓ Licensed & insured crews
✓ Serving Colorado
✓ No obligation
Defensible space & home hardening →
The specific work that measurably lowers your score — with the grants and tax credits that pay for it.
Is there a fire near Denver right now?
The map above shows active fires from NIFC. For live evacuation alerts, smoke, and incident updates, these official sources are the fastest:
Before the next Red Flag day
Know exactly how to protect your home in Denver — free
Build a personalized, prioritized mitigation plan in 2 minutes — every step tied to the insurance discount, tax credit, and grant it unlocks. Then get a hand-checked shortlist of vetted local contractors to do the work.
Denver wildfire FAQ
Is Denver at risk for wildfires?
Yes — Denver, Colorado carries a Low wildfire risk rating (18/100), so it faces some wildfire exposure. 14 wildfires have been recorded within 25 miles since 2000. Risk varies street by street, so check your exact address for a precise score.
Is Denver in a high wildfire risk area?
Denver, Colorado carries a Low wildfire risk rating (18/100) based on USFS Wildfire Risk to Communities, FEMA National Risk Index, terrain, and recorded fire history. Risk varies street by street — check your exact address for a precise score.
How do I check my home's wildfire risk in Denver?
Enter your street address into FireRisk.ai for a free, instant report. It pulls federal data for your exact coordinates and returns a 0–100 risk score, a satellite map of your defensible-space zones, nearby fire history, and your insurance and mitigation options.
Does wildfire risk affect home insurance in Denver?
Yes. Insurers price Colorado policies off the same federal hazard data in this report, and rising-risk areas have seen premium increases and non-renewals. Documenting defensible space and home hardening can unlock discounts and help keep coverage.
More wildfire risk in Colorado
Official Colorado resources
Know your home's exact wildfire risk
Street-level risk in Denver varies enormously. Get your address's precise score, defensible-space map, and insurance options — free, in 30 seconds.
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