LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. — The Cameron Peak Fire, the largest wildfire in Colorado history, resulted in a market loss of more than $6 million, according to a newly released report from the Larimer County Assessor's Office.
The fire started around Cameron Pass in Larimer County on Aug. 13, 2020. It blew up in September and October to a total of 208,913 acres, growing more than 78,000 acres in a three-day period in early September. The fire burned in the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests in Larimer and Jackson Counties, as well as Rocky Mountain National Park. The fire was ruled 100% contained on Dec. 2.
The damage assessment from the Larimer County Assessor's Office showed that 469 properties were affected by the fire and of those, 243 structures were destroyed.
The fire resulted in an assessed value loss of $472,533 and a market loss of more than $6 million.
Under House Bill 14-1001, the state will begin reimbursing affected Larimer County property owners about $123,000 from the lowered property values.
Larimer County Assessor Bob Overbeck said he and his staff had to check on every property to get the full scope of the fire's impact to write the report — about 1,200 hours-worth of work, including 111 days in the field. The team had to use fire gear and helmets and used not only vehicles but ATVs to review the area.
About 30,000 acres — or 9% — of Rocky Mountain National Park was impacted by the Cameron Peak Fire.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Click here to read the full assessment report.
