The community and its homes
Cimarron Hills lies east of the Colorado Springs city limits, roughly between Powers Boulevard and the open land further east, near Peterson Space Force Base and the Colorado Springs airport. It is unincorporated El Paso County, so county planning applies and fire protection comes from a local fire district rather than the city.
The housing stock is varied. There are manufactured home communities and individual manufactured homes on lots, neighborhoods of single-family houses from the 1970s and 1980s, and some newer development. Many residents work on the nearby bases, and many homes are rentals.
For fire cleanup, the difference between a manufactured home and a site-built house is large. Manufactured homes are built with lighter materials and smaller spaces, and smoke and heat often reach every room. A fire that would be a one-room repair in a site-built house can make a manufactured home a total loss. Older units built before federal construction standards took effect in the mid-1970s tend to fare worst.
Cleanup questions by home type
| Home type | Typical outcome after a moderate fire | Things to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Older manufactured home | Often a total loss | How does the policy value the home? Who removes the unit and debris? |
| Newer manufactured home | Repairable in some cases, depending on spread | Can the manufacturer's specifications guide repairs? |
| 1970s or 1980s ranch or bi-level | Repair of damaged rooms plus whole-house smoke cleaning | Should older wiring and the panel be evaluated? |
| Newer two-story | Repairs and cleaning; garage fires may reach rooms above | Are rooms above the garage included in the scope? |
After a fire in a manufactured home
Confirm it's safe
Don't re-enter until the fire department allows it. Floors and roofs can be weakened quickly.
Contact the park or landowner
If the home is in a community, notify management; they may have rules about removal and access.
Call your insurer
Manufactured homes are often covered under specific policies. Ask how the home is valued and whether debris removal is included.
Document contents and the unit
Photograph everything, including the exterior skirting and the underside if visible.
Plan removal or repair
If the home is a total loss, ask who removes it and what permits are needed to place a replacement.
Common questions
- Does airport or base activity affect fire cleanup here?
- Not directly. But smoke from grass fires on open land east of the community can be common on windy days, and exterior cleaning and attic checks deserve attention.
General information for Colorado Springs, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.