Divide Fire Protection District serves the Divide and Florissant corridor communities at 9,165 feet on the south slope of Pikes Peak — a high-altitude community with two stations, beetle-kill fuel loads, and direct proximity to Hayman Fire terrain. The district covers Teller and El Paso county communities on US-24.
Two stations covering 70 square miles at over 9,000 feet elevation means Divide FPD operates in some of Colorado's most challenging fire terrain. The Hayman Fire (2002) burned 138,114 acres in the adjacent South Platte and Pikes Peak corridor — the largest fire in Colorado history at that time. That fire history didn't go away when the smoke cleared. Fuel loads have recovered. The terrain still produces the same fire behavior. With response times up to 18 minutes in outlying areas and beetle-kill conifer throughout, property-level preparation is the foundation of any meaningful fire defense.
The hard truth of wildfire response is that fire departments make triage decisions during major incidents. Homes with cleared defensible space — reduced fuel in Zone 1 and Zone 2, ember-resistant vents, debris-free gutters — give crews a safe place to work and a survivable structure to protect. Homes without it get passed.
ISO ratings measure community fire protection infrastructure — not your individual property's risk. Documented defensible space can provide insurance benefits beyond the ISO baseline.
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Data disclaimer: ISO ratings, station counts, and coverage areas are sourced from official fire district websites and public records as of the date noted in the badge above. ISO ratings change after re-evaluations — verify your current rating directly with your insurer or fire district before making insurance decisions.
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Hayman Fire (2002) — 138,114 acres, burned the adjacent South Platte canyon and affected communities throughout Teller and Park counties. Multiple smaller fires in the Divide corridor on Pikes Peak's south slope. The combination of high elevation, beetle-kill, and wind exposure consistently produces extreme fire behavior in this area.
Fuel loads, terrain, and development patterns that existed during past fire events largely persist today. Areas that haven't burned in decades may carry the highest accumulated fuel loads.
Explore Colorado Fire HistoryDivide properties carry Very High risk based on elevation, fuel type, beetle-kill, and proximity to one of Colorado's most historically significant fire corridors. Properties on the south and east slopes facing the South Platte drainage face the most direct fire exposure.
Our free property assessment evaluates your home ignition zone and gives you a documented plan — the same documentation your insurer, tax preparer, and grant agency need to act on your behalf.
Divide Fire Protection District serves the Divide and Florissant communities in Teller and El Paso counties, Colorado. The district operates 2 stations covering approximately 70 square miles with a typical response time of 6–18 min and an ISO rating of 7.
Divide Fire Protection District holds an ISO Public Protection Classification of 7. ISO ratings range from 1 (best fire protection) to 10 (no recognized fire protection). Your rating is one factor insurers use to set homeowners insurance premiums. Individual property risk factors and documented mitigation work also affect your premium independently of the ISO rating. Contact your insurer for specifics and ask about discounts for documented defensible space.
The primary strategies are defensible space creation (Zones 1–3 fuels reduction around your structure), home hardening (ember-resistant vents, gutter guards, non-combustible decking), and exterior fire sprinkler systems for highest-risk properties. These measures don't replace your fire department — they extend its effectiveness by making your home a survivable structure. Colorado's 25% wildfire mitigation tax credit makes these investments more affordable.
Yes. Colorado insurers are increasingly factoring defensible space and home hardening documentation into underwriting decisions. Some carriers offer direct premium discounts; others use it as a factor in renewal decisions for high-risk properties. Colorado's 25% wildfire mitigation tax credit (up to $625/year) reduces your out-of-pocket cost. Fire Mitigation Experts provides insurer-ready before/after documentation with every project.
Teller is rated a Very High Risk wildfire risk area based on fuel types (Ponderosa pine, Engelmann spruce, mixed conifer, beetle-kill), terrain, and historical fire activity. Notable fires include: Hayman Fire (2002, adjacent), Pikes Peak south slope fires, Teller County conifer fires. Use our free Wildfire Risk Score tool for a property-specific assessment based on your address.
A free property assessment walks your home ignition zone, identifies your highest-risk fuels and vulnerabilities, and gives you a written mitigation plan with costs, the Colorado 25% tax credit, and grants that apply to your Teller property.
