Home interior with charred walls and furniture after a fire. Example of the work involved; the photo does not show a specific property or a job for this site.
What sets this area apart
Mountain Shadows and Rockrimmon sit west of I-25 on the city's northwest side, on ridges and slopes that rise toward the foothills and the national forest beyond. Streets wind along contours, many lots back onto open space or steep, brushy draws, and gambel oak, pine and dry grass grow right up to fences and decks. That is the classic wildland-urban interface.
The 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire burned into Mountain Shadows on a windy afternoon and destroyed hundreds of homes. Many lots were rebuilt in the years that followed, so the neighborhood now mixes houses from the 1970s through the 1990s with newer reconstruction built to more recent standards. Rockrimmon, just to the north and east, has many homes from the 1970s and 1980s, including split-levels and contemporary designs with wood siding and decks over sloping ground.
For fire and smoke cleanup, that mix matters. An older house with wood siding and large under-deck spaces faces different problems from a rebuilt house with fiber cement siding and ember-resistant vents next door.
Fire cleanup notes for these neighborhoods
- Main exposure
- Wildfire smoke, ash and embers from the foothills, often on strong westerly winds
- Typical construction
- 1970s to 1990s split-levels and two-stories, plus post-2012 rebuilds
- Terrain
- Sloping lots, walkout basements and elevated decks over brushy ground
- Building permits
- Pikes Peak Regional Building Department; ask about hillside and wildfire requirements
- Utilities
- Colorado Springs Utilities for most addresses; confirm on your bill
- HOAs
- Common; check design guidelines before replacing roofing, siding or fences
Spots to check after a nearby fire
- The space under elevated decks on the downhill side, where debris and embers collect
- Soffit and gable vents on the west and southwest faces of the house
- Walkout basement doors and window wells facing open space
- Gutters, especially where pine needles from neighboring trees pile up
- Wood fences and gates that connect to the house
- The attic, particularly in older homes with many roof vents
- Oak brush within a few feet of the house for scorching that may hide hot spots
Common questions
- My house was rebuilt after Waldo Canyon. Does that make cleanup different?
- Newer construction often has better vents, roofing and siding, which can mean less ash in the attic. Smoke can still enter through open windows, the HVAC system and gaps around doors, so inspect the same areas you would in an older home.
- Who do I ask about wildfire mitigation for my lot?
- Ask the Colorado Springs Fire Department about current wildfire mitigation programs and assessments for city addresses, and check with your HOA about any neighborhood efforts.
General information for Colorado Springs, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.