Insurance Presentation Recap
West Applewood residents who were able to join APOA’s Firewise speaker series last month heard from the non-profit United Policyholders, whose presentation emphasized that in Colorado’s new normal, residents need to pay more attention to their homeowners insurance policies. West Applewood is now officially included in Jefferson County’s Wilderness Urban Interface, is subject to Jeffco’s new wildfire hardening code requirements and has been deemed a higher-risk zone for wildfire by West Metro Fire Rescue and Xcel Energy.
Speaker Lisa Hughes, who rebuilt her home after the Marshall Fire, shared that in Colorado homeowners insurance premiums have doubled and tripled as brand insurers have stopped selling new policies or imposed strict monthly sales limits on agents, and competition is at an all time low. Nevertheless, insurance is still the number one source of money that helps people rebuild and recover after a disaster - not charitable or government aid. United Policyholders’ guidance has shifted from helping people avoid being underinsured to helping households find any viable option. Reducing your risk profile is key to keeping affordable insurance in place.
Hughes shared tips for insurance shopping, what to do if you get dropped by your insurance company and how to mitigate your property’s risks. To see her presentation slides, visit our Firewise page.
Free Wildfire Risk Assessments
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is now offering FREE wildfire risk assessments. A mitigation specialist will spend about 1.5 hours with you, evaluating the exterior of your home and the surrounding property to understand current conditions and identify wildfire risk. By walking the property with you, assessors gain insight into your priorities and help you understand what actions will be most effective for your home and property. After the visit, you'll receive a private, detailed online report outlining your home's vulnerabilities and practical steps you can take to improve structure survivability during a wildfire.
Neighborhood Slash Drop-off
APOA’s free October slash drop-off with Prospect Recreation and Park District yielded 46 loads of slash from the neighborhood. It’s part of our ongoing Firewise efforts to help West Applewood property owners mitigate fire risk. The next free slash drop-off is scheduled for May 1, 2027, which is also Wildfire Community Preparedness Day.
Jefferson County’s slash locations are now closed for the season. To be notified about re-opening dates, sign up for Jeffco alerts here.