2012 Waldo Canyon Wildfire
Waldo Canyon Wildfire: Field Investigation and Lessons Learned
Explore the report and video to gain practical insights into how wildfire-prone communities can better prepare for and reduce risk from future wildfire events.
Research
Fire Adapted Communities Mitigation Assessment Team Findings
The 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire near Colorado Springs, Colorado, was one of the most destructive wildfires in state history—destroying nearly 350 homes, forcing the evacuation of over 30,000 residents, and burning more than 18,000 acres. To understand the factors that contributed to structure loss and resilience, a post-disaster field investigation was conducted by the Fire Adapted Communities Mitigation Assessment Team.
This interdisciplinary team—comprising experts from the USDA Forest Service, IBHS, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the National Fire Protection Association, and The Nature Conservancy—conducted in-depth site visits, interviews, and neighborhood assessments in July 2012. Their findings are documented in a comprehensive report that outlines both vulnerabilities and successful mitigation practices observed in the field.
Accompanying the report is a compelling video case study, “Creating Fire Adapted Communities: A Case Study from Colorado Springs and the Waldo Canyon Fire,” which highlights community-based wildfire resilience strategies that can be replicated elsewhere.
For more on building fire-adapted communities, visit www.fireadapted.org.
Citation
Quarles, Stephen L., Pam Leschak, Rich Cowger, Keith Worley, Remington Brown, and Candace Iskowitz. “Lessons Learned from Waldo Canyon.” Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, 2012. https://doi.org/10.82346/K4CF-QC91.
