Senate Approves Cutter, Exum Sr. Bill to Better Protect Communities from Wildfires, Establish Wildfire Resiliency Code Board
SB23-166 will protect new construction from wildfires, help local governments keep wildland-urban interface safe
DENVER, CO – Legislation sponsored by Senators Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, and Tony Exum Sr., D-Colorado Springs, that would better protect communities from wildfires earned approval before the Senate today.
SB23-166 would help communities and Coloradans living in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) defend homes and property from catastrophic wildfires by establishing a statewide wildfire resiliency code board charged with establishing proven building codes to better protect structures against increasingly common wildfires. Local governments in the new WUI area would be required to adopt the model code or a code of their own that meets or exceeds minimum standards.
“The risk of wildfires in our state is growing, and we must act now to protect our homes and businesses and create more resilient communities,” Cutter said. “Fires don’t recognize local boundaries, and the impacts of a fire in any part of our state affect all of us, so creating minimum building standards just makes sense. If we ask firefighters to put their lives at risk to keep us safe, we should use every tool possible to protect them and our communities. According to FEMA, adopting and carrying out building codes is the single best way we can defend against wildfires, which is why I’m so proud to sponsor this bill.”
“Wildfires do not respect boundaries, and when it comes to growth in the wildland-urban interface we need a statewide policy that reflects that,” Exum Sr. said. “Our legislation will set smart and flexible standards that protect families, homes, and businesses against increasingly dangerous wildfires. I am proud to champion this important legislation that will defend people and property.”
Cutter and Exum Sr.’s bill would create the Wildfire Resiliency Code board made up of 21 voting members and three non-voting members from local governments, utilities, and other relevant disciplines such as firefighters and building professionals that would work to define and establish minimum standards that better defend areas in the WUI from dangerous wildfires.
The bill also requires the Board to support local governments in conducting inspections and enforcing their local code if they don’t have rules and regulations in place to enforce their code and request the assistance.
Wildfires have grown increasingly destructive in recent years. The Marshall Fire in 2021 burned more than 1,000 homes and over 30 commercial structures, and caused more than $2 billion in damage, while 2020’s East Troublesome Fire destroyed 366 houses, causing $543 million in damage.
SB23-166 will now move to the House for further consideration. More information about the bill is available HERE.