New research by University of Colorado Boulder and Colorado fire officials found that mountain residents overestimate how prepared they are for wildfires and underestimate their wildfire risk.
Research Associate Professor Hannah Brenkert-Smith and her team worked with the Platte Canyon Fire Protection District, nonprofit Wildfire Research Center and a homeowners association to survey the wildfire risk to homes in the Burland Ranchettes subdivision near Bailey.
Firefighters conducted 1,300 rapid risk assessments of properties, looking at 12 factors in wildfire risk, including vegetation, topography and building materials. Then the CU Boulder team sent out 1,150 surveys to ask residents to assess their homes using the same factors, while also asking about their experience with wildfire, risk reduction, evacuation plans and where they get information about wildfire.