Live-Fire Mitigation Demonstration

John Baker Photo ©

The West Metro Fire Rescue hosted a live-fire mitigation demonstration on September 18th, 2026 at the West Metro Fire Training Center in conjunction The Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) to show what wildfire mitigation can actually do. Markel Homes built two structures for the demonstration that were set-up next to each other. One had science-based mitigation features- including nothing combustible within the first five feet. The other had things you see around homes every day, mulch, plants and a wood fence. Firefighters used drip torches to ignite the areas around them, exposing each to the same wildfire conditions. The humidity was high, and there were a few rain showers, not normal Colorado wildfire conditions. Still the fire showed what it was capable of. On one side, the fire move from the vegetation to the fence, into the eaves and then into the attic, where it quickly spread inside. Once the fire burned through the roof, the entire building was involved. Next door, the mitigated home did not ignite. That’s why we talk so much about those first five feet. Anything that can burn can give fire a path right to your home. Additional information provided by West Metro Fire Rescue