Victims of the Marshall Fire in Boulder County last month should cycle through cleanup and demolition efforts on their properties and throughout their neighborhoods before broaching the topic of rebuilding, county and Louisville officials say.
If they want to build again, many are likely to start from scratch, Chad Root, a Louisville building design officer, said during an online media call on Tuesday. Only physical copies of the designs were used for homes built in the 1980s or 1990s, and most were phased out after 180 days.
Victims can still ask city and county officials to see if design plans for their homes — the fire destroyed 1,084 in the county — still stand, but officials have not yet been able to find a single set, Root said.
He and Lisa Ritchie, Louisville’s master planner, outlined the few details available for cleaning, demolition, and rebuilding during the call, which was attended by more than 230 people. Those looking to rebuild should also navigate newer building codes, install fire suppression systems, and additional water upgrades.
The couple also told the victims that more information and resources would be available in the coming weeks, and asked to be patient as city and county officials continue to assess the damage and plan a recovery strategy.
Victims over the phone expressed gratitude for their work but were frustrated with the intricate details on the horizon.
“We don’t seem to have anyone helping us with this,” said one of the victims, who was identified during the call as Lee. “We are not experts in this.”
Others have expressed concerns about their health and safety amid the toxic waste left by the fire, issues of timing and whether they were able to hold on to the small parts of their lives left untouched by the flames.
Susan Needle said that while her family lost their home, a row of trees on their property remained barely affected. And when I asked if the federal officials responsible for the demolition would leave those trees untouched, Needle received noncommittal answers.
“We’re sure they’re fine,” Needle said. “Rebuilding and having mature trees would be a tremendous asset to our home and neighborhood.”
Some cleanup is already underway, Root said, and more demolitions will soon follow. Residents can handle the process themselves, taking responsibility for hiring a contractor and obtaining all necessary permits.
Or residents can sign up for a county program, administered through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Ritchie said. This work includes removing the foundation and testing the soil.
“The county will hire crews who go neighborhood by neighborhood and do all this work for you,” Ritchie said.
County officials have said that self-employment property owners will not be eligible for financial assistance from public programs. Debris removal is expected to take months and cost millions.
Root said that no large-scale demolition permits will be issued for cluster homes until February 1, and work will follow itself.
Ritchie said a lot of the schedule depends on how many people decide to handle the business on their own or join the boycott program.
Needle said her family is considering dealing with the demolition themselves in order to save their trees.
“We heard when FEMA comes they take everything on your property,” she said.
Ritchie said she is working with others with federal officials to provide more information, so that people like Needle can make the best choice for their property.
Root added that too much of the cleaning process can be dangerous. The ash left by the fire is toxic, and he urged caution for those who will be in the affected areas.
The burn area contains heavy metals and asbestos, which can cause lung damage or cancer, according to state health officials.
The demolition could be prolonged because many of the foundations of the houses that were destroyed will have to be demolished.
“The heat is so intense that it actually breaks down the concrete and weakens it,” he said.
Root estimated that 99% of the foundations of completely burnt homes should be demolished.
After the demolition and debris were removed, Root said the properties should be surveyed to ensure property lines were accurate.
Only once this work is completed, and more than that, the rebuilding conversation can begin.
Ritchie urged neighbors to talk to each other about the contractors and builders they plan to hire. Several neighborhood residents who employ the same workers can speed up the process and potentially lower costs.
Those who are rebuilding will face more modern building codes, assistant city architect Cameron Foulkes said. Some of these changes will mean more modern water systems, water meters to be outside instead of in basements and the installation of a fire suppression system.
Ritchie noted that Louisville enacted a new law last year that requires all new buildings to meet net-zero efficiency standards. Louisville City Council member Kyle Brown said the council is considering whether to change the new code requirement.
Similarly, Ron Flax, Boulder County’s chief building officer, told the Denver Post that county officials are also considering building code updates for those rebuilding in unincorporated areas. He said flame retardant roofing, siding, and gutting systems could have made a difference as the Marshall Fire spread.
“We know that some houses caught fire because coals fell into the gutter and the ceiling caught fire,” Flax said.
Other residents asked Root and Ritchie about a more specific schedule for cleaning and demolition. David Levan, a resident of Cole Creek Ranch, said his insurance company is urging him to get home quickly, but he has expressed concern for his family’s health if they live in the area with a lot of cleaning going on.
Ritchie said her team is working with local, state and federal officials to determine a more accurate sequence of events. More information will be available online at louisvilleco.gov/marshallfire and residents can send further questions to building@louisvilleco.gov or marshallfire@louisvilleco.gov.