Marshall Fire and Straight Line Winds Response
In the aftermath of the fires in Boulder County, people need information about insurance - how to contact their company/agent, how to file claims, how the processes will work. The Division of Insurance is here to answer people's insurance questions and help to get them on the road to recovery.
Division of Insurance Consumer Services Team: 303-894-7490 / 800-930-3745 / DORA_Insurance@state.co.us
Federal and State Assistance Overview
You can sign up to receive Division notifications specific to the Marshall Fire only by clicking the following button and selecting the "Division of Insurance Marshall Fire" list:
* * * Announcements and Updates * * *
- Division of Insurance Asks Insurers to Extend ALE Coverage Beyond 12 Months for Marshall Fire Survivors
- Disaster Resilience Rebuilding Program - a grant and loan program from the Colorado Dept. of Local Affairs providing funding to qualifying homeowners for rebuilding homes. Website includes program details, eligibility requirements, FAQs and a form that can be submitted with additional questions.
- Recovery Navigators - A free service, offered through the Navigating Disaster for Boulder County program, will offer long and short-term support to help residents navigate the recovery and rebuilding process. Navigators will be assigned to individuals and families and work one-on-one to provide a broad array of support.
- United Policyholders Marshall Fire 6-Month Insurance & Recovery Survey - Questions about this survey should be directed to United Policyholders: info@uphelp.org
- Stay in Touch with FEMA About Your Insurance
- Division of Insurance Releases Initial Estimates of Underinsurance for Homes in the Marshall Fire - 4/26/22
- Boulder County launches Rebuilding Better website for Marshall Fire-impacted residents - from Boulder County 4/15/22
- Marshal Fire coordinated debris cleanup program schedule released - from Boulder County 4/1/22
- Coordinated Debris Removal Program Online Meeting on March 29 - from Boulder County 3/24/22
- Division of Insurance asks insurance companies to help fire survivors on key issues - 3/14/22
- Hydro-mulch work to begin this week on properties destroyed by the Marshall Fire; ROE deadline extended to Feb. 14 - from Boulder County 2/8/22
- Residents Impacted by Marshall Fire and High Winds Urged to Apply for Financial Help and Emergency Food Assistance - from Boulder County 1/28/22
- Marshall Fire Debris Removal Program - from Boulder County, 1/12/22
- Colorado State Legislators Host Boulder Delegation Marshall Fire Town Hall on January 9, 2022 - Meeting Recording
Division of Insurance Meetings & Town Halls
Information about upcoming Town Hall or other meetings will be posted on this website, and will also be listed on the Division's Newsroom & Announcements page. You can sign up to receive notifications of upcoming Town Halls by signing up on the Division's Sign-Up for Division of Insurance Email Lists webpage and selecting the "Division of Insurance Marshall Fire" list.
- SB22-206 Stakeholder Meeting - Oct. 21, 2022
- Town Hall - June 2, 2022 - Underinsurance Discussion, Part 2
- Town Hall - May 19, 2022 - Underinsurance Discussion, Part 1
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The Division reviewed the initial underinsurance analysis released on April 26, 2022. Three building companies rebuilding in Boulder County also presented, as did a representative from the U.S. Small Business Administration to discuss SBA loans. Materials from this meeting, including recordings of the meeting in English and in Spanish, are available below.
- Town Hall - January 19, 2022
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The Division held a second Insurance Town Hall on January 19, 2022, which focused on partial losses for homes that were not destroyed, but that still may have suffered external and internal damage to the building as well as personal property, including damage from smoke, soot and ash. Materials from this meeting, including a recording, are available at the following links.
- Town Hall - January 4, 2022
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The Division held the first Insurance Town Hall on January 4, 2022, to provide information and answer questions regarding insurance and insurance companies, related to the Boulder County fires. Materials from this meeting, including a recording, are available at the following links:
Frequently Asked Questions and Policyholder Guidance
The Division is also releasing a series of Frequently Asked Questions regarding insurance and insurance companies, as they related to the Marshall Fire and Straight Line Winds response. These FAQs and guidance have been developed based on questions the Division received during Insurance Town Halls on January 4 and January 19, 2022, as well as questions Division staff received at the Disaster Assistance Center. This section will updated as new topics are released.
- Division of Insurance asks insurance companies to help fire survivors on key issues - 3/14/22 (see full list of companies' responses)
- Policyholder Guidance - HOAs & Homeowners' Insurance - 2/9/22
- Town Hall FAQs - Rental Property Information - 1/24/22
- Town Hall FAQs - Underinsurance - Updated 1/11/22
- Town Hall FAQs - Additional Living Expenses - Updated 1/8/22
Key Resources
Boulder County Information:
- Rebuilding Better - website
- Marshall Fire Debris Removal Program - 1/12/22
- Right of Entry forms available for properties damaged/destroyed by the Marshall Fire - 1/11/22
- Boulder County Marshall Fire Resources and Information - English
- Boulder County Marshall Fire Resources and Information - En Español
- Boulder County Partners with Boulder Area Rental Housing Association to Share Housing Resources After Marshall Fire
- Boulder County Safe Cleanup after a Fire
- After the Disaster Guidebook for Boulder County - Colorado State University Extension
Colorado Department of Public Safety:
- Marshall Fire Information
- Marshall Fire and Straight Line Winds - Colorado Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management
FEMA Information:
Insurance-Related Information:
- FAQs - Additional Living Expenses (ALE) - Updated 1/8/22
- Insurance Information & Tips for Consumers
- Homeowners/Auto Insurance Company Claims Filing Telephone Numbers
- Information on Prescription Refills
Beyond Your Insurance Coverage - Additional Information:
- Home and Personal Property Loans - U.S. Small Business Administration
The Colorado Division of Insurance continues to develop policies, information and resources for insurance consumers and the insurance industry in response to the Boulder County fires.
Consumer Information
- Consumer Advisories and Fraud Alerts
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Marshall Fire Advisories:
In the wake of disasters like the devastating Marshall Fire, scammers prey on hopes and fears. Click the links below to learn how you can protect yourself from disaster fraud and scams.
- State, Federal and Other Information Resources
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- Home and Personal Property Loans - U.S. Small Business Administration
- Fact Sheet - FEMA Individual Assistance Program - U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- Navigating Homeowners Insurance - includes information about home inventories, from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)
- Key Insurance Actions
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- Safety - Stay safe and follow all safety measures from authorities. Do not try to assess damage, take photos, or make repairs if it is not safe to do so.
- Contact your insurance company as soon as possible.
- Request a complete copy of your policy. The insurance company must provide it to you within 3 days.
- File a claim - Report your claim as soon as possible to your insurer.
- If your home is a total loss, your insurance company should provide you with 30% of the contents coverage listed on your policy without requiring documentation.
- Document the damage - Only if it is safe to do so, document the damage with photos and video.
- Photos and video will help establish your claim.
- Mitigate further damage - If possible and it is safe to do so, take action to protect your property from further damage - for example damage due to snow or freezing temperatures.
- Filing a Claim
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- Call your insurance company or your agent to file a claim Be ready to answer any questions about the damage
- Keep a record of everyone you talked to at your company and what they told you
- Ask what damage is covered, how much coverage you have, and what your deductible is
- Ask about an advance payment if you need help quickly
- Ask about living expenses. Most policies will cover some of your costs if you are unable to live in your home because of damage that is covered by your insurance. Keep receipts for these costs
- If you have an auto policy with comprehensive coverage, call your company to report any damages to the vehicle. Without comprehensive coverage your company will not cover wind, flood, fire or storm related damage.
Regulations and Bulletins
- Property & Casualty
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2022 Actions
- Emergency Regulation 22-E-15 Concerning Law and Ordinance Coverage Relating to the Marshall Fire - effective 8/22/22
- Emergency Regulation 22-E-09 Concerning Tolling Certain Time Limits of Policyholder Benefits in the Event of a Catastrophic Disaster - effective 5/6/22
- Bulletin B-5.44 - Concerning the Communication of Certain Coverage Limits by Homeowners' Insurance Companies to Policyholders that Experienced a Loss Resulting from the Boulder County Fires - effective 2/8/22
- Emergency Regulation 22-E-01 - Concerning Tolling Certain Time Limits of Policyholder Benefits in the Event of a Catastrophic Disaster - effective 1/7/22
- Bulletin B-5.43 - Policyholder Benefits in Immediate Aftermath of Boulder Fires - effective 1/3/22
- Health Insurance
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2022 Actions