Colorado Wildfires

The Environmental & Economic Effects of Wildfires in Colorado Springs

The potential for wildfires has increased in the Western United States over the last several years. Scientists and researchers tout climate change with increasing temperatures as well as drought as the main culprit of the increasing number of wildfires. It is projected that rising temperatures will continue and lead to even more frequent, large, and severe wildfires as well as even longer wildfire seasons (Cleetus & Mulik, 2014). It is crucial to find ways to prevent and reduce costs associated with wildfires in these western states. The effects of wildfires hit areas environmentally and economically. These effects are often felt several years after wildfires occur.

The

city of Colorado Springs lies 63 miles south of Denver in the colorful state of Colorado. The area of Colorado Springs has been impacted by two major wildfires in the last two years. On June 23, 2012, the massive Waldo Canyon fire northwest of Colorado Springs started and lasted for 18 days (City of Colorado Springs, 2013). Almost a year later, on June 11, 2013, the Black Forest fire north of Colorado Springs started and lasted for 10 days (El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, 2014). The recent wildfires in the Colorado Springs area have had major effects on the local environment and economy. The environmental and economic effects of both wildfires are still felt today.
The Waldo Canyon Fire
Approximately three miles west of Colorado Springs in the Pike National Forest, the Waldo Canyon fire of 2012 was the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history burning 18, 247 acres, killing two people, destroying 347 homes and damaging many more (City of Colorado Springs, 2013).

In addition to property damages and loss of life, there were other damages caused from this wildfire. These other damages consisted of wildlife, plant life, soil degradation and watershed damage. Economic damages from this wildfire were substantial to the local and state economy. Some costs incurred by these economic damages were in the form of firefighting costs, insurance claims, home displacement costs and business closures during the duration of the

fire.
The cost associated with fighting the Waldo Canyon fire was very expensive. The city of Colorado Springs reports the expenditures submitted for reimbursement from the firefighting efforts totaled $2,712,510 not including the regular salaries of workers (2013). There were many other organizations and agencies involved assisting the city of Colorado Springs with the fire. Some of these included nearby fire departments, local military personnel and other federal and state agencies. The total estimated cost of operational activities is reported at $16, 686, 000 (InciWeb, 2012). Many assets were used, including aircraft suppression techniques to fight the raging fire.
Home displacement costs to evacuees were endured during the fire. Many organizations, local charities and faith groups took some of the burden, however there were costs to shelter and feed these people. The long duration of this fire added to the costs as evacuees were not allowed to return to their homes until the wildfire was properly contained. A total of 28,770 residents were evacuated covering 11,308 homes and buildings (City of Colorado Springs, 2013). Many local businesses were evacuated as well contributing to total market loss due to the fire. Again, the fire duration added to these losses.
Another huge economic impact was the amount of insurance claims from damaged and destroyed homes caused by the wildfire. Insurance claims of the destroyed and damaged homes from this wildfire totaled $453.7 million (Hemingway, 2013). In addition to the 347 destroyed home, there were claims for damages on many more. Smoke damage was a common claim by many homeowners that still had homes not directly affected by the wildfire but in the vicinity of the affected area.
The Black Forest Fire
Approximately 14 miles north of Colorado Springs, the Black Forest fire of 2013 burned a total of 14,280 acres, 2 fatalities and destroyed 489 homes, a commercial cell phone tower and 196 other small building structures such as detached garages and out buildings (El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, 2014). As with the Waldo Canyon fire the year prior, there were also damages to wildlife, plant life and soil. Several of the same type of economic damages as the Waldo Canyon fire were felt. Reminiscent of the Waldo Canyon fire, these economic damages were also in the form of firefighting costs, insurance claims, home displacement costs and some business closures.
As with the Waldo Canyon fire, many other agencies and organizations were involved in the response to this wildfire.

The response agencies and organizations included state and federal agencies as well as nearby fire and police departments. Many of the same assets were utilized in the fighting of this fire including aircraft to fight this fire. It is reported that the Black Forest firefighting costs at $14.8 million and had a total market value loss of just over $116 million (2104). The Black Forest fire added to the economic effects from the previous year’s wildfire yet costing the local economy additional hardships. Wages for first responders and costs for increased manpower are just a few more factors involved to capture some of the costs associated with fighting the

fire.
Also with the Black Forest fire, home displacement costs were a factor. Mandatory evacuations occurred in an area of 94,000 acres covering 13,000 homes and 38,000 people (2104). Cost to shelter and feed evacuees occurred but not to the extent of the previous wildfire of 2013. Local charities and faith groups helped again with this wildfire providing shelter and food for evacuees. The Black Forest evacuation area did not have as many businesses as the Waldo Canyon evacuation areas, but still sustained some business loss to add to the costs of the fire.
As expected, insurance claims became an economic factor from this wildfire as well. Claims were filed of the 489 homes destroyed and the many more structures damaged. Insurance claims from the Black Forest fire totaled $292.8 million (Hemingway, 2013). In addition to claims of smoke damage, many small outbuildings and detached garages suffered damage or were destroyed driving the costs of Colorado wildfire claims even higher. Although the Black Forest fire was not as expensive as the Waldo Canyon fire in insurance claims, the addition of these claims make for a cost of almost a billion dollars between both wildfires in Colorado Springs.