Rainbow Hill

Protecting Rainbow Hill, Together

Rainbow Hill
Fire Mitigation Project

Rainbow Hill faces a serious wildfire risk. With only one way in and out, our community is especially vulnerable if a fire starts at the top of the hill. Decades of overgrowth, combined with thousands of dead trees left by pine beetles, have weakened the health of our forest and increased the danger. Fire mitigation is the single most effective step we can take to protect our homes, our families, and the land we love. By working together as neighbors, we can create defensible space, restore a healthier forest, and ensure a safer future for everyone who calls Rainbow Hill home.

COMMUNITY MEETING


When: October 25 @ 10am
Where: Foothills Fire & Rescue Building

Kelby Woodard & Eric Isenhart will provide an overview of this project, their roles, and answer community questions.

Kelby Woodard
Forest & Mitigation Program Manager
Clear Creek Watershed & Forest Health Partnership
Coalitions & Collaboratives, Inc

Eric Isenhart
Watershed Coordinator
Clear Creek Watershed & Forest Health Partnership
Loan Committee Coordinator
Coalitions & Collaboratives, Inc
 
Can't attend in person - Join us via Zoom!
FFPD Hazard Zones By Rating

Rainbow Hill Road
The Issue

Rainbow Hill is currently rated Class 10 fire risk—the highest level possible per the Foothills Fire Protection District Community Wildfire Protection Plan, December 2020 report.

This is why many of us are losing homeowners insurance or facing skyrocketing premiums. According to the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS), the only way forward is clear: we must create defensible space around our properties and establish shaded fuel breaks across the hill.

By addressing these priorities, we not only reduce wildfire danger but also improve the overall health of our forest, limiting the spread of pests like pine beetles.

If you are interested in having your land included in this protection plan, you MUST mark yourself "confirmed" on the community spreadsheet. Only committed residents property will be included in the plan. This is not a commitment—it simply ensures you’re included in the planning process and have a voice in the solution.

With community participation, we can transform our neighborhood from one of Colorado’s highest wildfire risks into a model for safety, resilience, and forest health.
Join the List!


 

Emergency Access

Emergency Access

Rainbow Hill is a one-way-in, one-way-out road, and the 2020 Foothills Fire Protection District Community Wildfire Protection Plan highlights this as a major vulnerability. If a fire were to break out between homes and I-70, residents would have no safe evacuation route. The risk to families, pets, and property is immediate and deeply concerning for our entire community.
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Forest Health
Forest Health
The health of our forest has deteriorated from years of overgrowth, compounded by pine beetle infestations. Individual residents have spent thousands of dollars removing infested or dead trees, only to see new damage emerge within weeks. Despite these efforts, the problem is far larger than any one household can manage. Without a coordinated approach, the cost and labor will remain unsustainable, while the risks continue to grow.
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Homeowners Insurance

Homeowners Insurance

Many Rainbow Hill residents are already experiencing the fallout. Insurance companies are pulling back, citing “high or extreme brushfire exposure.” Policies are being dropped, new coverage is nearly impossible to secure, and for many, the only fallback is the Colorado FAIR Plan—which caps coverage at $750K. Without viable insurance, homeowners face financial strain, and even selling properties becomes nearly impossible.
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Foothills Fire & Rescue

Community Wildfire Protection Plan Update

Rainbow Hill faces some of the most severe wildfire risks in Colorado. According to the Foothills Fire Protection District’s 2020 Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP), our neighborhood sits in an Extreme Hazard Zone with a Class 10 fire risk rating—the highest possible. With only one road in and out, limited water supplies for firefighting, and homes surrounded by dense forest, the vulnerability is clear. This project is about coming together as a community to reduce those risks, protect our families and homes, and restore the health of our forest.
Read the Report
SPLAT Verb Verbenone by ISCA Technologies
SPLAT Verb is an environmentally friendly repellent that provides sustained and controlled release of the verbenone anti-aggregation pheromone. Verbenone is naturally produced by MPB and by several other species of bark beetle towards the end of a mass attack. The presence of verbenone signals new MPB approaching the infested tree that it is already too overcrowded to serve as a suitable host.
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Join the List

Enter your information on the Community Sheet
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