Explainers: fire and wildfire smoke problems in the Pikes Peak region

Each explainer takes one problem that comes up when fire meets the foothills, the plains and the older neighborhoods of Colorado Springs. Some deal with houses that burned; many deal with houses that only caught ash, embers or smoke. Read the one closest to your situation, then use the planning tools to act on it.

How wildfire ash ends up in your attic, and what to do about it A house miles from the flames can still pull ash through its roof vents. Here is how that happens on the west and north sides of Colorado Springs, how to judge the amount, and what a sensible cleanup looks like.
Going home after a wildfire evacuation: the first days back Evacuation orders lifting is not the same as a house being ready to live in. This explainer follows the usual sequence from re-entry to the first cleaning decisions for households around Colorado Springs.
Ember damage: the quiet harm wildfire does to houses that survive Embers travel far ahead of a wildfire front on Colorado Springs winds. They leave small burns that are easy to miss but can weaken a deck, open a path into the attic or reveal where the next fire could get in.
Burn scar flooding: when a wildfire's damage arrives as mud and water A wildfire can change how a hillside handles rain for several years. Homes downstream, even ones the fire never touched, can face fast floods carrying ash, soil and debris. Here is what that means for cleanup.
Handling fire or smoke damage when you're deployed, on orders or moving Colorado Springs has a large military population, and fires don't wait for convenient timing. This explainer covers the practical problems of managing a cleanup and claim from a distance or in the middle of a move.
When the place you rent has a fire: a renter's guide Renters make up a big share of households in Colorado Springs, including many military families and students. After a fire, the building and your belongings follow two separate tracks. Knowing which is which keeps you from waiting on the wrong person.
Stove ash that wasn't cold: how a routine chore starts fires Many homes in Black Forest, Monument and the foothills heat partly with wood or pellets. Ash that looks cold can hold live coals for days, and a careless dump into a cardboard box or plastic bin starts fires in garages, on decks and in dry grass.
Propane, well water and septic: rural systems to check after a fire On acreage in Black Forest, Peyton or the Tri-Lakes area, the house depends on systems that city homes never think about. A fire, and the firefighting that follows, can damage all three. Check them before you rely on them again.
Hazy smoke days: does your house need cleaning, or just fresh air? Smoke from fires in other states and distant parts of Colorado regularly turns the sky over Pikes Peak orange. Most of those days don't require any cleanup. A nearby fire is a different matter. Here's how to tell the difference.
After a grass fire: fences, sheds, outbuildings and the yard The open grassland on the east side of El Paso County can carry fire quickly on a windy day. Often the house survives while fences, sheds, trailers and landscaping don't. That exterior damage has its own cleanup and insurance questions.
Soot on the outside of the house: stucco, stone and siding Stucco and cultured stone are everywhere in Colorado Springs subdivisions, and both hold soot in their texture. Pressure-washing the wrong way can drive stains deeper or damage the finish. Here is how each material responds.
Soot etching: why some fire damage gets worse while you wait After a house fire, some residue keeps working on surfaces after the flames are out. Bathroom fixtures, windows, appliances and stone counters can go from cleanable to permanently marked. Knowing the rough timeline helps you set priorities.
Cleaning up wildfire ash without breathing it in After a fire near the city, ash can coat yards, decks, cars and patio furniture. Most of it can be cleaned by a careful homeowner. The key is keeping it out of the air and off your skin.
Rebuilding under an HOA: getting design review done early Neighborhoods from Briargate and Northgate to Woodmoor and newer east-side subdivisions often have architectural covenants. A fire rebuild usually needs HOA approval alongside the building permit, and the two don't always line up.
Permits for fire repairs in the Pikes Peak region One regional department handles building permits for Colorado Springs, unincorporated El Paso County and several nearby towns. Knowing which parts of a fire repair need permits, and which other agencies get involved, keeps a rebuild moving.
Rebuilding smarter: choices that help a house resist the next wildfire If a fire damaged your roof, deck or siding, you'll be choosing replacements anyway. In the wildland-urban interface around Colorado Springs, some of those choices make a real difference in how a house handles embers and heat next time.
When the policy limit won't cover the rebuild Large wildfires in Colorado have left many households with policy limits far below what rebuilding actually costs. Knowing why that happens, and which parts of a policy can help, is useful whether you've lost a home or want to avoid the problem.
After a kitchen hood fire: getting a restaurant back open A hood suppression system can knock down a grease fire in seconds and still leave the kitchen closed for days. Reopening depends on cleaning, system service and sign-off from the fire and health authorities. Here is how those pieces fit together.