Featured Update
New Colorado Law Gives Homeowners the Right to See — and Challenge — Their Wildfire Risk Score
House Bill 25-1182, signed into law in 2025 and effective July 1, 2026, is the most significant change to wildfire insurance regulation in Colorado in decades. Insurers will be required to share individual wildfire risk scores with policyholders, incorporate community-level mitigation efforts into their underwriting models, and provide a formal appeals process for disputed scores. FORGE is preparing education programs to help every Ute Pass resident understand and act on their new rights under this law.
May 2026 · Insurance & Policy
Starting July 2026, Insurers Must:
FORGE Ute Pass Incorporated as a Colorado Nonprofit — 501(c)(3) Status Pending
FORGE Ute Pass has been formally incorporated as a Colorado nonprofit corporation, establishing the organization as a coordinating body for wildfire resilience across the Ute Pass corridor. Federal 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status is pending with the IRS. Grant applications to state and federal wildfire resilience programs are underway.
Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code: What Ute Pass Residents Need to Know
Colorado's Wildfire Resiliency Code (CWRC) establishes construction and retrofit standards for homes in the Wildland-Urban Interface, including requirements for ember-resistant vents, Class A roofing, and defensible space. Teller County communities including Chipita Park, Cascade, Crystola, and Green Mountain Falls fall within WUI zones where these standards apply to new construction and significant remodels.
Fuels Reduction Work Completed Across Green Mountain Falls Properties
Led by FORGE Co-Founder David Douglas through the Green Mountain Falls Forest Mitigation Advisory Committee (FMAC), fuels reduction work has been completed on public and private land in Green Mountain Falls. The project removed ladder fuels and reduced tree density toward the Colorado State Forest Service's recommended target of 40–70 trees per acre — a replicable template for the broader Ute Pass corridor.
Colorado Homeowners Face Rising Premiums and Non-Renewals in Wildfire Zones
Colorado has seen significant increases in homeowners insurance premiums and non-renewals in wildfire-prone areas, driven by growing losses from fires like Marshall (2021) and Cameron Peak (2020). Mountain communities along the Front Range — including the Ute Pass — are among the most affected. Community-wide fuels mitigation, as pursued by FORGE, is one of the most effective tools for stabilizing insurance availability.
Fall Chipper Day Serves Dozens of Properties in Green Mountain Falls
FORGE's chipper program — run in partnership with the Green Mountain Falls FMAC — provided free brush chipping services to residents in fall 2025, helping homeowners remove ladder fuels and create defensible space around their properties. The program is planned to expand to additional Ute Pass communities. Residents can sign up through FORGE's volunteer and outreach programs.
Chainsaw Operator Training Expands Community Fuels Mitigation Capacity
A chainsaw operator certification course — conducted in partnership with Team Rubicon and aligned with NWCG Sawyer standards — trained Ute Pass residents as certified chainsaw operators. Certified community members can assist neighbors with fuels mitigation work, expanding local capacity beyond what paid contractors alone can provide. Additional training sessions are planned for 2026.