The Black Forest Fire

For eight years, the Black Forest Fire held the grim record as Colorado’s most destructive wildfire by homes lost.

Overview

Igniting June 11, 2013 in the densely wooded Black Forest community northeast of Colorado Springs, the fire destroyed 489 homes and killed two residents who were trying to evacuate. It burned just 14,280 acres, again proving that destruction is about location and home density, not just size.

The cause

The cause was never officially determined, though natural ignition was largely ruled out.

Lessons

What the Black Forest Fire teaches Colorado homeowners

Every major Colorado fire reinforces the same lesson: the homes most likely to survive are the ones prepared before a fire starts. The dense, unmanaged tree canopy that gave the community its name also carried fire from home to home, a textbook case for defensible space. Creating defensible space, hardening the home against embers, and documenting the work for insurance and grant funding are the highest-leverage steps a homeowner can take.

Homeowners in Black Forest and El Paso County can get a free assessment from our Pikes Peak Region and Colorado Springs teams.

Not sure where your property stands? Check your wildfire risk score in under a minute, watch for new starts on the active fires map, and set up emergency fire alerts so you never miss an evacuation order.