Post-Fire Cleanup & Recovery

Fire Debris Removal & Property Recovery in Colorado

After a wildfire, every hour counts. Our crews mobilize fast to remove hazardous debris, stabilize your site and produce the insurance documentation you need to start your claim — so you can focus on what's next, not what burned.

Get Emergency Assessment 📞 (720) 235-8453

Licensed & Insured Crews Insurance-Ready Documentation Rapid Mobilization

Why Speed Matters

Wildfire debris is a hazard — the longer it sits, the worse it gets

What's left after a wildfire isn't just ash and charred wood. Burned homes concentrate decades of household chemicals, vehicle fluids, insulation, treated lumber and plastics into a toxic debris field. Rain carries that contamination into groundwater. Wind disperses ash — including asbestos from pre-1980s materials — into neighboring properties. Exposed, unprotected soil erodes catastrophically after the first storm.

Quick, professional cleanup protects your health, your neighbors and your ability to rebuild. It also directly supports your insurance claim — adjusters move faster on well-documented, professionally cleared sites, and your policy's debris removal coverage is most easily accessed when work is itemized from the start.

We work throughout Colorado's wildland-urban interface and have mobilized after the Marshall Fire, the Calwood Fire and other major events. We know what these sites look like, what the county requirements are, and how to get you from debris field to cleared lot as efficiently as possible.

Wildfire damage and post-fire site recovery

What We Do

Everything your site needs, from first entry to cleared lot

Structure debris removal

Full removal of burned building materials, foundation ash and structural remnants from total or partial losses, sized and sorted for disposal per county requirements.

Hazardous material handling

Identification, containment and proper disposal of asbestos, heavy metals, melted plastics, propane tank residue and other burn-site hazards — by crews equipped and trained for the job.

Burned vegetation removal

Removal of standing dead trees, burned brush and surface debris from the surrounding landscape — including slope-risk assessment for trees that may fall post-fire.

Soil & erosion assessment

Post-fire soils are often hydrophobic — water runs off rather than absorbing. We assess slope stability, identify erosion flash points, and apply erosion control measures before the next rain event.

Site stabilization & prep

Grading, weed barrier installation, erosion control blankets or hydro-seeding on disturbed soils — so the cleared site is stable while you work through the rebuild process.

Insurance documentation packet

Before-and-after photo sets, itemized disposal manifests, a project summary letter and a site assessment report — formatted for direct submission to your adjuster.

Our Process

From burned lot to cleared site in four steps

1

Emergency site assessment

We assess the property as soon as county access is granted — photographing all debris, identifying hazardous materials, and producing a scope-of-work estimate for your insurer.

2

Hazmat identification & permitting

We identify any materials requiring special handling permits and coordinate with your county for demolition or debris-removal permits where required before work begins.

3

Debris removal & haul-off

Our crews remove all debris systematically — separating hazardous from non-hazardous materials, maintaining disposal manifests, and haul-off to permitted facilities.

4

Site stabilization & documentation

We stabilize exposed soils, photograph the cleared lot and deliver a complete documentation packet — then walk you through the transition to rebuild or re-landscaping.

Insurance Claims

Your policy covers this — we make sure you capture every dollar

Standard Colorado homeowners policies cover fire debris removal under the dwelling or other structures provisions. Many policies also include an additional debris removal allowance on top of your dwelling limit — but you have to document correctly to access it.

We produce the paperwork adjusters require: itemized invoices broken down by labor, equipment and disposal fees; a written scope-of-work completed before work starts; disposal manifests for hazardous materials; and before-and-after photography with GPS coordinates. Notify your insurer before we begin so the claim is established — we'll take it from there.

Colorado also allows wildfire debris removal costs to qualify for the 25% state wildfire mitigation tax credit when combined with post-fire site work. We document everything so you capture both the insurance reimbursement and the state credit.

See All Funding Options

Forest fire with dense smoke — Colorado post-fire cleanup and restoration

What Comes Next

Post-cleanup: rebuilding your wildfire defense

After the debris is cleared, the site that burned is still in a wildfire-risk zone. A post-fire rebuild is the best time to start fresh with the protection that should have been in place — and Colorado has funding programs specifically designed for post-fire mitigation.

Rebuild your defensible space

Post-fire sites can be regraded and replanted with a purpose-built, zone-by-zone fuel break before the next fire season.

Harden the rebuilt structure

New builds and rebuilds are the easiest time to incorporate Class A roofing, ember-resistant vents and noncombustible siding — and often required by current WUI code.

Understand your community's CWPP

Many post-fire rebuild areas fall under active Community Wildfire Protection Plans. Your rebuild may qualify for program funding if you meet the plan's mitigation standards.

Questions, Answered

Post-fire cleanup FAQs

When can I start post-fire cleanup on my property?

Wait for official all-clear from your county or the incident management team before entering the property. Once access is granted, professional cleanup should begin as quickly as possible — ash and debris become increasingly hazardous as they weather, and exposed soil erodes rapidly. We mobilize quickly after major fire events in Colorado.

What hazardous materials are found in wildfire debris?

Wildfire ash and debris can contain asbestos (from older homes), heavy metals, melted plastics, burned vehicle fluids, propane tank residue, pesticides and other toxins. Disturbing this material without proper respiratory protection and handling protocols creates serious health risks. Our crews are equipped and trained for hazardous debris environments.

Does homeowners insurance cover post-fire cleanup?

In most cases, yes — fire debris removal and site cleanup are covered under the 'additional living expenses' or 'other structures' provisions of a standard homeowners policy. We provide itemized invoices, photo documentation and a project summary letter formatted for insurance claim submission. Always notify your insurer before work begins.

How long does post-fire cleanup take?

A residential cleanup for a total-loss structure typically takes 5–15 working days depending on lot size, debris volume, access and the presence of hazardous materials. Partial-damage cleanups — removing burned vegetation, clearing debris from a surviving structure — are often completed in 1–3 days.

What happens after the debris is removed?

After debris removal we assess the site for slope stability and erosion risk, apply erosion control measures where needed, and identify any remaining hazards. If rebuilding, we provide a cleared, stabilized foundation site. If the home survived but the surrounding land burned, we transition into fuels reduction and defensible space work to protect against the next fire.

Where We Work

Serving Colorado's Wildfire-Risk Communities

Colorado Springs Boulder Evergreen Fort Collins Castle Rock Black Forest

Serving all of Colorado's wildland-urban interface. View all service areas →

Go Deeper