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.

Chipping/Hauling Event

May 2 & 3, 2026

Eric & Kelby with Clear Creek Watershed & Forest Health Partnership (CCWFHP) have coordinated a chipping event to help Rainbow Hill residents with slash removal this spring. These services are being provided at no cost by Jefferson County Sherriff’s Office (JCSO) Wildland Fire crews.

Please follow the guidelines to ensure an efficient event:

 - Slash piles must be neatly stacked at the side of the road by Thursday, April 30

      - Piles counted on Friday, May 1 by CCWFHP and JCSO

 - Max pile size: 5' height x 5' width x 5' length

 - Trunks less than 8" in diameter

 - Place cut ends facing road but not down in drainage ditches or impeding roadway

 - NOT accepted: Piles of pine needles, root wads, trash, rotted material, or rocks

 - NOT accepted: treated lumber or wood with nails

More information will be provided before the event.
Defensible space around the home - zone 1 is 0-5', zone 2 is 5-30' and zone 3 is 30-100'

Colorado State Forest Service Fire Mitigation Guidelines

IMMEDIATE ZONE (0-5 feet)- Non combustible area
This is the most important zone to take immediate action as it has the greatest vulnerability to wildfire embers.
  • Remove ALL flammable material within 5 feet of structures
  • Clean roofs and gutters of pine needles and debris that could catch embers
  • Replace or repair any loose or missing shingles to prevent ember penetration
  • Clean debris from exterior attic vents and install 1/8th inch metal screens to reduce ember intrusion
  • Repair or replace damaged or loose window screens and enclose under patio/deck areas wire mesh to prevent debris and combustible materials from accumulating
  • Move any flammable material away from wall exteriors (mulch, flammable plants, leaves and needles, firewood piles)

INTERMEDIATE ZONE (5-30 feet)
Landscaping/Hardscaping- Employ careful landscaping and create breaks that can influence and decrease wildfire behavior
  • Clear vegetation under large, stationary propane tanks
  • Create fuel breaks with driveways, walkways/paths, patios, and decks
  • Mow grasses to 4 inches or less
  • Remove ladder fuels (vegetation under trees) so surface fires cannot reach the crowns
  • Prune trees up to 6 feet from the ground
  • Space tree crowns 15+ feet apart (more on steeper slopes)
  • Trees and shrubs in this zone should be limited to small clusters of a few each, to break up the continuity of the vegetation across the landscape
Pine trees with Verbenone packets attached

Verbenone Packets

Verbenone is not a conventional pesticide and is not toxic to animals or the environment. It is a registered product with EPA in the USA.

Verbenone is an antiaggregation pheromone for Mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae), Southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis), Western pine beetle (Dendroctonus brevicomis) and other bark beetles. Verbenone, as a stand alone product,  is normally only deployed to deter mass attack of Mountain Pine Beetle in tree stands. It has not been proven as a single pheromone deterrent for tree protection from Southern Pine Beetle, Western Pine Beetle, or Ips species.

How do I use verbenone?
Packets containing verbenone are stapled to the trunk of pine trees. The number of packets needed per tree depends on the diameter of the tree. The number of packets per acre depends on the density of the site. The packets are typically attached to the trunk on the north side of the tree, about 6 to 7 feet above the ground, and spaced on trees approximately 12 feet apart.

Will it protect my pine trees from mountain pine beetle?
Studies have shown varying success. The effectiveness will vary depending on many factors including weather, site conditions, forest density, and beetle population size. Verbenone may help disperse beetles but under heavy infestation conditions it may have a much-lowered effect. Other control methods—such as removing infested trees, thinning forests, or applying preventative insecticides—should also be considered. Our fact sheet outlines the available options in more detail.

What time of year would I use verbenone?
Packets need to be in place by mid-June, before the mountain pine beetles fly, and left in place until at least mid-September. Depending on a site’s condition and the specific product used, the verbenone may need to be reapplied mid-season.

Do I have to use verbenone?
No. Verbenone may be used as a part of an integrated pest management plan to help reduce mountain pine beetle activity on individual properties. It is a preventative option but does not control the beetles.

Learn more on the Jeffco website:
Jeffco Verbenone Info
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.
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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.
Learn More
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

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Enter your information on the Community Sheet
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