Jefferson County discussion spotlights wildfire mitigation and homeowners insurance after public comments

Several Jefferson County residents urged action on wildfire mitigation and homeowners insurance costs during public comment at the board of county commissioners meeting on Jan. 14, 2025, and commissioners described multiple ongoing efforts to address those concerns.

Residents said insurers are canceling or excluding coverage in ZIP code 80401 and flagged the cost of complying with local mitigation requirements. Joan Poston, an unincorporated Jefferson County resident, told the board she had learned of insurance cancellations in 80401 and warned the commissioners that building owners in that ZIP code may face higher premiums or loss of coverage. "I'm also, concerned about, what has to be done with the fire mitigation and how much help citizens are going to get with this," Poston said, adding that the county's current fees for slash removal created affordability concerns (Poston said it costs $25 for residents to drop a truckload of wood in the county…