Homeowners in Colorado are increasingly facing the challenge of maintaining home insurance policies due to the growing risk of wildfires, mirroring trends seen after the California wildfires. A recent example highlights this issue: Steve and Jen Hoogendoorn, residents of Evergreen, Colorado, have had their homeowner’s insurance canceled despite significant investments in fire mitigation for their property.
Their home, built 15 years ago, features a metal roof, stucco exterior, and triple-pane windows. Steve Hoogendoorn explained, “Steel roof, steel beams on the outside. So steel columns. Then after that, we went with concrete decking and not wood decking around the house.” The home’s construction, initially exceeding fire protection standards, also includes concrete surrounding the house and a concrete deck.
The couple has gone above and beyond to protect their property from fire. Each year, they remove a substantial amount of trees from their property, giving away half and burning the rest. Jen Hoogendoorn said, “We try to keep moving out farther and farther into the home hardening zones.” They have mitigated the area around their home out to 100 feet and have extended their efforts through the forest to approximately 300 feet. They also obtain proper permits for burning slash piles, coordinating with Evergreen Fire Rescue.
Jess Moore, wildland project coordinator at Evergreen Fire Rescue, stated the couple “have an A-plus” rating and are actively involved in community fire safety. Moore explained that the Hoogendoorns assist their neighbors with evacuation routes, and community work days. Jen Hoogendoorn added, “We organize neighbors, we’ve done projects, we’ve done community work days. Neighbors come together with chainsaws and tools, and we clear slash. We work on the evacuation route.”
Despite these comprehensive efforts, the Hoogendoorns received notice that their insurance policy with Farmer’s Insurance would not be renewed. The letter stated that their home no longer met the eligibility requirements. Steve Hoogendoorn expressed frustration, stating, “Clearly they don’t want our umbrella policy, they don’t want our five automobiles that are on there, insured and they don’t want the revenue from insuring our home.”
This situation is part of a broader trend in Colorado, where insurance companies are reassessing risk in high-catastrophe areas. Carole Walker, executive director of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association, noted the impact of escalating wildfire and hail events, stating that a “ripple effect from California” is evident. Insurance companies consider mitigation efforts but may still decline coverage if the risk is deemed too high. Despite the Hoogendoorns’ extensive mitigation work, they had not received a visit from their insurer to assess these efforts.
Colorado Insurance Commissioner Michael Conway issued a statement, emphasizing the importance of insurers clearly communicating the value of mitigation and ensuring that their predictive models accurately reflect homeowners’ and community investments in fire safety.
Moore from Evergreen Fire Rescue highlighted the disconnect between the fire department’s assessment of risk and the insurance companies’ decisions, stating, “There should be some sort of acknowledgment to say hey, if it’s good enough for the fire department then we can take that risk too.”
The Colorado legislature is considering a bill that would mandate information about discounts for policyholders who undertake mitigation efforts. The Hoogendoorns’ case underscores the need for such measures, emphasizing the need for options beyond cancellation for homeowners who actively reduce their fire risk. Steve Hoogendoorn concluded, “I mean it is a business and I understand it but, give me an option. Don’t just call me and say we’re done with you.”
