Insured damage from Black Forest Fire at $292.8 million

Preliminary insured damage from the most destructive wildfire in Colorado’s history is at $292.8 million, the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association said this week.

Approximately 3,630 homeowner and auto insurance claims have been filed so far in June’s Black Forest Fire, the association said.

The estimate makes the fire the second most expensive in the state’s history, with last June’s Waldo Canyon Fire estimated at $453.7 million in insured damage from approximately 6,648 claims.

An updated insured loss estimate from last June’s High Park Fire stands at $113.7 million from approximately 1,293 claims.

“The early Black Forest Fire estimates, when compared with preliminary numbers from the Waldo Canyon Fire, show more total property losses, but fewer overall home and auto insurance claims filed so far with approximately 3,630 claims that include smoke damage, additional living expenses, damaged and destroyed homes, as well as personal belongings and vehicles,” the association said.

“There are likely a number of factors that play a role—Black Forest is more rural and wooded with a wide variety of property types ranging from large, multiple structure home sites to single family dwellings and cabins,” it noted.

“Waldo Canyon is an urban neighborhood and densely populated, which would likely add up to more overall damage claims. These estimates do not include commercial losses.”