2026 Colorado Wildfires – Insurance Claim and Recovery Help
If you are told to evacuate – please do so immediately.
If you have time, read our Wildfire Evacuation Tips
If your property is damaged or destroyed our guidance is here to help you get started on the road to recovery, make good decisions and keep moving forward.
Through our Roadmap to Recovery® program you can access free, trustworthy help navigating the process of returning to a wildfire damaged area, repairing and replacing damaged and destroyed property, and collecting all available insurance funds. Get the straight scoop on insurance, clean up, contractors, lawyers, adjusters, avoiding rip-offs and mistakes, your legal rights and emotional support from people who genuinely care about helping you navigate successfully. This page will help Colorado homeowners and renters affected by the Aspen Acres Fire, Snyder Fire, Gold Mountain Fire.
Visit the UP table at the Aspen Acres Fire Disaster Assistance Center
Pueblo Academy of Arts, formerly Pitts Middle School, 29 Lehigh Ave., Pueblo, CO 81005
The DAC is July 2nd- Tuesday, July 14th 9 AM – 6PM
Can’t make it to the Disaster Assistance Center?
Sign up below to download the Wildfire Recovery Guide Handout and receive information and alerts from United Policyholders.
United Policyholders is non-profit and has expertise based on nearly three decades of assisting in communities hit by wildfires. Our staff, disaster veteran and professional volunteers and our partnerships with public, private and non-profit agencies and organizations will help lighten your load. We’re rooting for you and here to help. No strings attached.The following are selected items from the extensive library of resources we offer.
Eyes tired from reading? Watch our FIRST STEPS AFTER A WILDFIRE video here.
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Taking it in and Getting Started
If you need help locating your insurance carrier’s contact information or information on how to file a claim. The Colorado Division of Insurance consumer service team can be reached 1-800-930-
3745 It is Colorado Law that your insurance company is required to provide you with a copy of their insurance policy within 3 business days of the policyholder’s request.
FEATURED VIDEOS
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Arranging Temporary Housing
TIP: If you lost your home in the wildfire, when you file your insurance claim, be sure to ask for a cash advance to help you get situated. Be sure to ask for it in writing (email counts).
Airbnb.org is offering no-cost transitional housing is available to any individual or family with initial stays of up to 10 days. Dial 2-1-1 for more information and to register.
If your home was destroyed in a State declared disaster, Colorado law requires your insurer to provide at least 24 months of additional living expense (ALE) coverage with an option to twice extend this coverage by six months. This law extends the time you have to use your ALE / Loss of Use coverage, but does not increase the dollar amount of coverage. Check your insurance policy declarations page to see if you have a dollar amount limit in your policy.
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Getting Organized, Informed and Empowered
Resources General
- Insurance Consumer Rights in Colorado (2025)
- Advocacy Win! New Rights for Colorado Insurance Consumers (HB 22-1111)
- Frequently Asked Questions About Property Damage Insurance Claims in Colorado
- Organizing Carrier-Specific Disaster Survivor Groups
- Insurance Accounting Spreadsheet
- Speak UP: How to communicate with your insurance company
- Renters Insurance Claim Tips (California)
- Mobile/Manufactured Home Insurance Claim Tips
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Getting Debris Removed
Households can register with Crisis Clean Up to be connected with volunteers who may be able to assist with clean up efforts including ash sifting, debris, trees and fences. Call (970) 283-7325 to sign up for assistance.
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Being Proactive in Documenting and Valuing Your Losses
If your home was spared but was exposed to extreme heat and smoke, we offer specialized guidance on partial loss insurance claim issues related to proper cleaning, inspecting for damage, restoring healthy indoor air quality and repairing obvious as well as hidden damage. For additional resources and videos, click here.
Resources General- Insurance Recovery Tips for the Dwelling Part of Your Claim
- The Scoop on “Scope” (of loss)
- Guidelines For Reviewing Adjusters’ And Contractors’ Estimates
- Xactimate Demystified
- Survivors Speak: Getting an Insurer to Pay Penalty Interest (Colorado)
- Survivors Speak: Estimating Your Loss
- Sample Letters and Claim Documents
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Creating Your Home Inventory and Navigating Your Contents Claim
Colorado law states that if your home is a total loss in a State Declared Disaster, and that home was your primary residence, your insurance company must offer to pay you at least 65% of your contents coverage without requiring a home inventory. The following fires have received State Disaster Declarations: Snyder, Gold Mountain, Aspen Acres, Willow, and Sheep Head fires.
FEATURED VIDEOS:
- Strategies for Completing Your Home Inventory – Contents Intensive (recorded for 2020 wildfire survivors)
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Making Housing and Financial Decisions
Resources General
- Survivors Speak: Forced Choice Matrix for Decision-making
- Underinsurance 101
- Survivors Speak: Coping With Underinsurance
- Tax Information for Disaster Survivors
- Updating your home insurance after a loss...Staying protected without wasting money
- Buy or Rebuild? FAQs on replacing a dwelling after a total loss
- What to Do With Checks from Your Insurance Company
- Rebuilding / Choosing a Contractor
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Working with Your Mortgage Company
Your mortgage company cannot require you pay off your loan with your insurance proceeds, but they will typically be listed on the insurance payments along with you. Fannie Mae’s Disaster Response Network™ can help eligible homeowners navigate the broader financial impacts of disaster and the challenging recovery process with a team of HUD-approved housing counselors offering:
- A needs assessment and personalized recovery plan
- Help requesting financial relief from FEMA, insurance, mortgage servicers, and other sources
- Web resources and ongoing guidance from experienced disaster relief advisors
Homeowners can call 877-833-1746 to access the Disaster Response Network or other available resources.
Visit Fannie Mae’s KnowYourOptions.com consumer website for housing resources, including details on disaster relief. Homeowners can visit www.knowyouroptions.com/relief to learn more and find out if they have a Fannie Mae-owned mortgage and access to the full benefits of their Disaster Response Network.
Resources General- Let Go Lender: Getting Your Mortgage Company To Release Insurance Proceeds
- Sample Letter Requesting Mortgage Company Release Insurance Proceeds
- Sample Letter Requesting Insurance Proceeds be Placed in an Interest-bearing Escrow Account
- Mortgage Company Release Request #1 - Initial Check
- Mortgage Company Release Request #2 - Additional Releases
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Getting help if/when you need it
Note: In the event of a catastrophic disaster public adjusters cannot charge any payment, commission, or fee more than 10% of the insurance proceeds or settlement. Public adjusters cannot require, demand, or accept any fee, retainer, compensation, deposit, or other thing of value prior to the settlement of the claim. (Colorado Revised Statutes Title 10. Insurance § 10-2-417)
Resources General - Taking Care of Yourself Along the Way
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Announcements & Government Bulletins
Featured video, from DORA Town Hall on July 15th, 2026:
Resources General- Pueblo County Emergency Updates
- 2-1-1 Colorado Wildfire Information and Resource (Call 2-1-1)
- Governor Polis Issues Verbal Disaster Declarations, June 29, 2026
- Consumer Protections for Coloradans Affected by Wildfires: DORA - Division of Insurance, July 6, 2026
- DORA Consumer Advisory: Flood Insurance After Colorado Wildfires
- DORA Consumer Advisory: Division of Insurance is Here to Help
- Governor Polis Tours Disaster Assistance Center, Thanks Volunteers, Highlights Resources for Coloradans Impacted by Wildfires