(MUSIC PLAYING) - THERE'S NO WAY A FIRE COULD, LIKE, BURN ALL OUR HOUSES DOWN.

IT JUST DIDN'T SEEM POSSIBLE.

- WHAT I WANT TO DO IS JUST CURL UP IN A BALL AND GET MY FAMILY'S LIFE BACK.

- REALIZE THAT THERE'S NOW 1,000 DECISIONS YOU HAVE TO MAKE, AND LOTS AND LOTS OF DETAILS.

(MUSIC PLAYING) - OUR OLDEST SON HAS ALWAYS HAD A FEAR OF OUR HOUSE BURNING DOWN.

SO THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A LOT.

WE'VE ALWAYS SAID WE'RE SAFE, FIRES DON'T COME OVER HERE, THEY GO IN THE MOUNTAINS.

- I DON'T THINK ANYONE WAS THINKING THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

SO, NOBODY WAS PREPARED FOR IT.

- THIS IS A SUBURBAN TOWN.

WE HAVE FIRE HYDRANTS, FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND WE JUST NEVER THOUGHT A WILDFIRE, A WILDLAND FIRE COULD SWEEP THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY.

- YEAH, IT STARTED BASICALLY A BLOCK THAT WAY.

THERE WAS A STRUCTURE FIRE ON 93.

AND I THINK SOMEONE CALLED 911.

- ONE NEIGHBOR SAID IT WAS A WALL OF FLAMES.

WE HAD ABOUT THREE TO FIVE MINUTES BEFORE THE ENTIRE ROAD THAT WE CAME OUT ON WAS IN FLAMES.

- THE WINDS WERE JUST INSANE.

- AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD NO CHANCE.

- THE MESA IS JUST ALL GRASS.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO STOP IT.

AND I JUST KIND OF STARTED SHAKING.

WE DIDN'T EVEN WAIT FOR ANY EVACUATION NOTICES, WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE A GREAT THING BECAUSE WE DIDN'T GET THOSE UNTIL OUR HOUSE WAS ON FIRE.

(MUSIC PLAYING) - WHEN THE SMOKE WAS JUST STARTING TO ROLL IN, BEFORE THE FLAMES EVEN REACHED LOUISVILLE, IT WAS INCREDIBLY THICK.

YOU COULDN'T BREATHE.

- AT ONE POINT, I REMEMBER LOOKING OUT MY BEDROOM WINDOW AND SEEING THREE DIFFERENT FIRES.

- THE FIRE JUMPED OVER THE REC CENTER AND HIT THOSE TOWNHOMES.

AND RIGHT BEHIND THAT IS MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WAS ON THE NATIONAL NEWS WITH ALL THESE FIREMEN RUNNING AROUND.

WE COULD PICK OUT OUR NEIGHBORS' HOUSES.

WE JUST THOUGHT, ABSOLUTELY, FOR SURE, THAT OUR HOUSES WERE GOING TO GO.

- WE HAD NEVER PRACTICED FOR AN EVACUATION OF THIS SCOPE.

AND ALL 35,000 OF OUR RESIDENTS WERE EVACUATED THAT NIGHT.

- IT JUMPED HIGHWAY 36.

IT WAS 1,000 STRUCTURES.

WORST WILDFIRE IN COLORADO'S HISTORY.

- IT PULLS THE RUG OUT FROM UNDERNEATH YOU.

- THE FIRE STARTED ABOUT FOUR PROPERTIES WEST OF HERE.

- YEAH.

THERE WERE SHEDS AND BUILDINGS ON FIRE DOWN THE STREET FROM US ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

- WHERE OUR HOUSE WAS LOCATED IN BOULDER, VERY FEW PEOPLE EVEN KNOW THAT--ASSOCIATE BOULDER WITH THE MARSHALL FIRE.

IT'S VERY MUCH LOUISVILLE AND SUPERIOR.

BUT BOULDER COUNTY HAD OVER 200 HOMES LOST, AS WELL.

I'M MEGAN MONROE, AND WE LOST OUR HOUSE.

WE LIVED IN DOWNTOWN MARSHALL, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY CLOSE TO WHERE THE FIRE STARTED, THE MARSHALL FIRE STARTED.

WE LOST OUR HOME IN THE FIRE.

- I'M A THIRD GENERATION COLORADO NATIVE.

NOBODY THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, AND IT WAS A COMPLETE SHOCK.

YEAH, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MOVE FORWARD.

AND IT'S DEFINITELY A LOT OF UNKNOWNS RIGHT NOW.

MY NAME IS BRIAN FUENTES, AND I LIVE--LIVED IN UNINCORPORATED BOULDER COUNTY.

AND MY WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN, WE LOST OUR HOUSE IN THE RECENT MARSHALL WILDFIRE.

MEGAN SAW THE FLAMES AT OUR KITCHEN WINDOW.

SHE GRABBED THE KIDS' COATS, GOT THEM OUT THE DOOR, TOLD ME TO GRAB HER COAT.

I RAN BACK IN, GRABBED HER COAT, AND WE JUMPED IN OUR NISSAN LEAF, AND WE DROVE AWAY.

AND SEVEN MINUTES LATER, THERE WERE FLAMES GOING UP THIS ENTIRE HILL.

OUR NEIGHBORS WERE RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES.

- WE WERE CONTEMPLATING, SINCE WE'RE ON A DEAD END HERE, WE HAD TO GO BACK OUT PAST THE FIRE.

SO, I CALLED, THINKING I COULD RUN OVER THERE WITH THE KIDS ACROSS THE FIELD.

AND I DIDN'T GET THROUGH TO HER.

SO, WE TEXTED HER.

AND WE EVEN FELT--IT'S LIKE, "I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T WANT TO SCARE HER."

WE FELT A LITTLE DRAMATIC.

- WE DIDN'T WANT TO BE ALARMIST OR SOMETHING, LIKE WE WERE BEING CRAZY OR SOMETHING.

LIKE, "OH, THERE'S A LITTLE FIRE."

WE DIDN'T KNOW.

- SO, WE LEFT.

- THE WIND WAS PRETTY BAD.

- SINCE WE DIDN'T GET THROUGH TO THEM, WE LEFT.

AND THEN, LATER, WHEN WE CONNECTED, SHE SAID THAT IT WAS SIX OR SEVEN MINUTES AFTER MY TEXT THAT THE HOUSE ON THE HILL WAS ON FIRE.

SO, IT HAD BLAZED WELL PAST OUR HOUSE.

THERE'S NO WAY WE WOULD HAVE MADE IT ACROSS THE FIELD IN THAT TIME.

- YEAH, WE COULDN'T HAVE WALKED.

WE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN--WE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE FIRE.

- WE WOULD HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY IT.

THAT'S PRETTY HORRIFYING TO THINK OF THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE IN THAT SPLIT SECOND.

WE LEARNED THAT OUR HOUSE STOOD FOR OVER SIX HOURS, BURNING.

THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT ALLOWS ME TO SLEEP AT NIGHT, KNOWING THAT MY FAMILY COULD HAVE GOTTEN OUT IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT NIGHT.

- YEAH, WE HAD A BACK PATIO HERE.

AND OUR BEDROOM WAS HERE.

IT'S A PRETTY MODEST HOUSE, 1,800 SQUARE FEET, BASICALLY.

AND THE TWO KIDS' BEDROOMS ARE BACK THERE.

AND WE HAD A LITTLE FAMILY ROOM HERE.

KIDS' TOYS AND A PIANO, AND THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH IT DOWN HERE.

- JUST A WARM, COMFORTABLE HOUSE.

IT WAS JUST A VERY COZY... YOU FELT LIKE YOU WERE WRAPPED IN A BLANKET.

FOR A SPLIT SECOND, YOU'LL FEEL LIKE YOU'RE IN THAT SPACE.

AND THEN YOU REALIZE THAT IT'S JUST NOT THERE.

WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DIFFERENT TIMES LIKE THAT WHERE YOU FEEL IT FOR A MOMENT... THEN YOU REALIZE IT'S GONE.

THIS IS RIGHT WHERE IT FANNED OUT.

THIS IS WHERE, HOW THE WINDS BLOW, IT KIND OF ALL CONVERGES RIGHT HERE.

IT'S LIKE A LITTLE MARSHALL VALLEY.

THIS IS DOWNTOWN MARSHALL, THE HISTORIC, OLD MINING TOWN.

AND RIGHT HERE IS WHERE IT JUST OPENS UP.

AND THIS IS WHERE IT SPLIT, KIND OF WIDE TOWARDS SAGAMORE, AND THEN WENT OUT TOWARDS HIGHWAY 36 AND PARAGON ESTATES OUT THAT WAY.

-WE HAVE SUBMITTED A PRELIMINARY CONCEPTUAL PLAN TO BOULDER COUNTY.

AND THEY'VE OKAYED THAT CONCEPT.

BASICALLY, WE'RE JUST REBUILDING ON THE SAME FOOTPRINT, ROUGHLY THE SAME SIZE.

WE ARE ARCHITECTS AND BUILDERS, SO IN SOME SENSE, WE'RE LUCKY COMPARED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, THAT WE CAN DO IT OURSELVES.

IT TOOK US 10 YEARS TO BUILD THE HOUSE THE FIRST TIME, PRETTY MUCH, TO GET TO THIS POINT WHERE THE LANDSCAPING WAS SOMEWHAT DONE.

SO, YEAH, NOW WE'RE JUST STARTING OVER, DOING IT AGAIN.

IT'S A LOT TO TAKE ON, GIVEN OUR CURRENT WORKLOAD AND OUR CHILDREN.

WE WEREN'T PLANNING FOR THIS, OBVIOUSLY.

BUT HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO IT.

WE BASICALLY HAVE WORKED THE LAST 20 YEARS TO BUILD HOUSES THAT ARE REALLY ECOLOGICALLY DRIVEN.

ESSENTIALLY, THEY HAVE BEEN ALL ELECTRIC.

IT'S INDUCTION COOKING, TYPICALLY.

AND THEY'RE WITH SOLAR PANELS.

THEY'RE MAKING MORE ENERGY THAN THEY'RE CONSUMING ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

SO, YOU DO NOT HAVE A UTILITY BILL BESIDES THE $5 UTILITY CONNECTION FEE.

THAT HAD OUR SOLAR SYSTEM THAT POWERED OUR HOUSE.

OUR HOUSE WAS ALL ELECTRIC, NO GAS.

THERE WAS NO GAS TO THE HOUSE AT ALL.

SOLAR HOT WATER, SOLAR ELECTRIC, EVERYTHING.

WE CHARGED OUR ELECTRIC CAR FOR FREE.

WE WERE TRYING TO BUILD A HOUSE TO PROTECT THE PLANET FROM CLIMATE CHANGE.

WE WERE TRYING TO SET A POSITIVE EXAMPLE.

BUT THEN WE LOST OUR HOUSE TO A CLIMATE DISASTER.

SO, THE IRONY IS... IS PRETTY FRESH.

I'VE SPENT MY CAREER TRYING TO MAKE BUILDINGS TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM BY ELECTRIFYING OUR BUILDINGS, BY SUPER-INSULATING THEM.

SO, THE PASSIVE HOUSE IS ALL ABOUT BASICALLY JUST BEING SUPER EFFICIENT AND NOT WASTING ANYTHING.

ESSENTIALLY, YOU'RE USING THE HEAT FROM PEOPLE, COMPUTERS, LIGHTS, THAT'S WHAT'S HEATING YOUR HOUSE MOST OF THE TIME.

YOU REALLY ONLY HAVE A HEATING SYSTEM AS A BACKUP.

THAT'S WHERE THE NAME COMES FROM, PASSIVE HOUSE.

THERE'S NO HEATING SYSTEM REQUIRED EXCEPT FOR IN THE MOST EXTREME CONDITIONS.

THIS WAS OUR BACK DECK, AND IT WAS MADE OF STEEL, SO IT OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T BURN.

THAT ACTUALLY WAS ONE GOOD DECISION WE MADE.

AND WE INITIALLY DID THAT TO LET LIGHT INTO THE BASEMENT BECAUSE IT WAS A PASSIVE HOUSE PROJECT.

SO, THE LIGHT WOULD GO IN AND HEAT THE WINDOWS IN THE BASEMENT IN THE WINTERTIME.

IN THE SUMMERTIME, WE HAD A SHADE FABRIC THAT WOULD COVER THIS.

THEN, OUR KITCHEN, LIVING ROOM KIND OF WAS HERE AND HERE.

AND THEN WE HAD A BIG COVERED FRONT PORCH.

ALL THESE HOUSES, THEY WERE BEING BUILT IN THE 70S.

BUT IT WAS JUST KIND OF A NICHE THING THAT GOT FORGOTTEN BECAUSE WE HAD CHEAP ENERGY.

JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER WINDOWS, A LITTLE BIT MORE INSULATION, AIR TIGHT CONSTRUCTION, SO YOU'RE GOING TO GET A QUIETER HOUSE, YOU'RE GOING TO GET A MORE COMFORTABLE HOUSE.

EVEN ON THE COLDEST DAYS, THE SURFACE TEMPERATURES AROUND YOU ARE NOT GOING TO FEEL COLD, AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY DRAFTS.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE LESS CHANCE OF MOLD.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE LESS CHANCE OF ALLERGIES.

AND THEN YOU HAVE A FRESH-AIR VENTILATION SYSTEM THAT'S ALSO FILTERED.

SO, IT'S BRINGING IN FRESH AIR ALL THE TIME, AND IT'S EXHAUSTING AIR FROM YOUR BATHROOMS AND KITCHENS AND LAUNDRY ROOMS.

EVERY THREE HOURS, YOUR HOUSE GETS BRAND-NEW AIR.

BUT IT'S NOT COMING IN FROM RANDOM PLACES.

IT'S COMING THROUGH THIS FILTRATION SYSTEM.

THAT MEANS IF THERE'S A CRAZY, WILDFIRE GOING ON, YOU CAN PUT A BIG, HEAVY-DUTY FILTER IN THE FRONT OF YOUR ERV AND STILL GET FRESH AIR IN YOUR HOUSE.

WE HAD A LITTLE FRONT GARDEN AREA WITH DAISIES AND SOME NATIVE FLOWERS, OBVIOUSLY SOME MULCHED AREAS, WHICH WE WON'T DO AGAIN.

NOW IT'LL BE A LOT OF CONCRETE AND CRUSHED [INDISCERNIBLE] REFINED PATHS, NOTHING COMBUSTIBLE ANYWHERE NEAR THE HOUSE.

WE'RE GOING TO PUT A LOT OF SOLAR ON.

WE'RE GOING TO SUPER-INSULATE AGAIN.

IT'S GOING TO BE AN AIRTIGHT BUILDING.

THIS TIME, I THINK THE ONLY DIFFERENCE WILL BE THAT THE ENVELOPE WILL BE MUCH MORE FIRE RESISTANT, BECAUSE NOW WE REALIZE THAT WE'RE NOT SAFE HERE EITHER FROM FIRE, FROM WILDLAND FIRE...

EVEN AT CRAZY TIMES OF YEAR, LIKE DECEMBER, WHEN YOU THINK THERE'D BE SOME SNOW.

WE'VE KNOWN ABOUT THE FIRE RISK, AND WE'VE BUILT IGNITION-RESISTANT BUILDINGS.

WE DID A BUNCH OF HOUSES, ACTUALLY, THAT SURVIVED THE FOURMILE FIRE.

BUT I NEVER THOUGHT IT WOULD HAPPEN TO ME.

NOW, WITH CLIMATE CHANGE, THE RULES ARE DIFFERENT.

THE FRONT RANGE, IN GENERAL, IS AT RISK BECAUSE WE HAVE ALL OF THESE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE BUILT AGAINST THE MOUNTAINS, HIGH WIND.

WE HAVE INCREASINGLY DRY CONDITIONS.

THAT WASN'T THE WAY I GREW UP IN THE 80S.

WE DIDN'T HAVE PERSISTENT FOREST FIRES WHEN I WAS GROWING UP IN THE 80S IN LAKEWOOD.

NO ONE'S IMMUNE FROM THIS NOW.

WE'VE BEEN SAYING THIS FOR YEARS.

WE HAVE TO CHANGE.

WE CAN'T WASTE ENERGY ANYMORE.

EVERYTHING WE HAD THAT WAS PERSONAL OR SENTIMENTAL FROM OUR ENTIRE LIFE IS OBVIOUSLY GONE.

WE LEFT WITH JUST THE CLOTHES WE WERE WEARING.

AND IT TEACHES YOU, OBVIOUSLY, TO NOT BE ATTACHED TO THE OBJECT.

BUT STILL, IT'S A HUGE LOSS.

WE NEED MASSIVE CHANGE, AND WE NEED IT FAST.

- YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE MELTED LIGHTS.

THIS IS THE BOYS'--OUR KIDS' STRIDER BIKE, THE ONE THAT THEY BOTH LEARNED HOW TO RIDE BIKES ON.

- YOU CAN DO IT.

YOU CAN DO IT.

- NO, I CAN'T.

- YES, YOU CAN.

THAT'S THE HARDEST STUFF TO SEE.

- YEAH, THE KIDS' STUFF IS REALLY HARD.

IT WAS A REALLY SURREAL DAY.

I DIDN'T BELIEVE ANY OF IT WAS HAPPENING.

IT DIDN'T FEEL REAL OR EVEN POSSIBLE.

MY NAME IS KASEY LOMBARDO, AND I AM A SURVIVOR OF THE MARSHALL FIRES IN LOUISVILLE, COLORADO.

THIS IS WHERE THE BOYS' TOYBOX WAS, OUTDOOR TOYBOX.

AND THIS IS THEIR OLD TONKA TRUCK AND THEIR TOY RAKES.

THE BOYS WERE PLAYING IN THE BACKYARD WITH OUR NEIGHBOR.

MY GIRLFRIEND CALLED ME, AND SHE WAS KIND OF UPSET AND SAID THAT THERE WAS A FIRE, "IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A FIRE HEADING OUR WAY."

AND SHE'S LIKE, "I THINK YOU SHOULD START PACKING.

SO, I GRABBED MILES' BABY BOOKS, THEN RAN INTO MAX'S ROOM AND GRABBED HIS BABY BOOK.

AND THEN I JUST KEPT PACKING, LIKE KEPT MAKING ROUNDS THROUGH THE HOUSE, LIKE WHAT DID I FORGET?

KEVIN CAME IN THE HOUSE, AND HE WAS LIKE, "KASEY, WE HAVE TO LEAVE NOW."

AND I JUST--IT WASN'T REGISTERING.

I SAW HIM AND I HEARD WHAT HE WAS SAYING, BUT I WAS FROZEN.

I DON'T KNOW.

I GUESS SHOCK OR SOMETHING.

- [EXHALES] THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST... SURREAL MOMENTS, AND I THINK STILL CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF THE MOST SURREAL MOMENTS.

I AM KEVIN LOMBARDO.

I AND MY FAMILY, WE LOST OUR HOUSE IN THE MARSHALL FIRE IN BOULDER COUNTY, COLORADO, IN LOUISVILLE, ON DECEMBER 30, 2021.

IT TOOK ME A GOOD SEVERAL DAYS TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT OUR HOUSE WAS GONE.

EVEN JUST KIND OF ACKNOWLEDGING THAT ONE NIGHT IN A HOTEL ROOM WHERE WE LOOKED IN A CORNER, AND THERE WAS ALL OF OUR STUFF.

ALL OF OUR STUFF FIT IN THE CORNER OF THE HOTEL ROOM.

IT'S JUST A HOUSE, BUT IT'S NOT JUST A HOUSE.

[PIANO PLAYING] EVERYTHING WE DID THERE, THE MOVIE NIGHTS ON THE COUCH, THE GAME ROOM, THE KIDS' PLAYROOM, THE HOMESCHOOL THAT WAS EVENTUALLY SET UP THERE FOR REMOTE LEARNING DURING THE PANDEMIC, IT WAS OURS, AND IT WAS FAMILIAR.

WE GOT A LOT DONE IN THAT HOUSE.

[SIRENS RINGING] - SO FAST, EVERYTHING HAPPENED SO QUICKLY.

WE WERE OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, I THINK, FOR, LIKE, 15 OR 20 MINUTES WHEN OUR NEIGHBOR CALLED KEVIN AND SAID THAT THE POLICE JUST DROVE DOWN OUR STREET WITH A BULLHORN SAYING TO EVACUATE NOW.

AND THEN, I THINK IT WAS, LIKE, 10 OR 15 MINUTES AFTER THAT THAT OUR HOUSE WAS ON FIRE.

- HOLY COW.

- THAT'S CRAZY.

THIS PLACE IS BURNING OVER HERE.

- I'D CATCH LITTLE SNIPPETS ON THE TV ABOUT WHAT THE PROGRESS WAS.

THE ELEMENT HOTEL IS GONE.

SUPERIOR IS GONE.

PART OF SUPERIOR IS GONE.

SAGAMORE IS GONE.

THE NEXT DAY CAME WITH CALLS AND PICTURES FROM SOME FRIENDS TO LET US KNOW THAT OUR HOUSE WAS GONE, AND THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS GONE, AND A LARGE PART OF THE COMMUNITY IS GONE.

- I REMEMBER MILES'--HE'S IN KINDERGARTEN.

I REMEMBER A MOM SENDING OUT AN EMAIL TO ALL THE PARENTS, LIKE, "IF YOU WERE AFFECTED BY THE FIRE, REACH OUT."

I COULDN'T BEAR TO REPLY THAT WE HAD LOST EVERYTHING.

MAYBE I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO FACE IT.

BUT ONE OF MY GIRLFRIENDS IN THAT SAME CLASS TEXTED ME AND ASKED, "HOW'S YOUR HOUSE?"

AND SHE'S LIKE, "I HOPE YOUR HOUSE SURVIVED" OR WHATEVER.

AND I'M LIKE, "ACTUALLY, WE LOST EVERYTHING."

AND SHE RESPONDED TO THAT EMAIL.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT, IT GOT EVERYTHING--JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN, EVERYTHING STARTED ROLLING.

THIS HOUSE WAS OFFERED TO US BY ONE OF THE PARENTS IN THAT CLASS.

- RIGHT NOW?

OR DO YOU WANT TO LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE AND SEE WHAT'S AROUND AND STUFF?

HEY.

- THERE WERE DONATIONS EVERYWHERE, BOXES OF CLOTHES, BEDS FOR THE BOYS, BLANKETS, AND JUST AMAZING.

IT WAS JUST INCREDIBLE.

OUR ENTIRE SCHOOL COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER AND REALLY HELPED US OUT.

- LET'S GO!

- WE HAD DONATIONS COMING INTO THE HOUSE FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.

- A LOT MORE HAPPY TEARS, I THINK, THAN I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED.

- YEAH, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO REBUILD IN THIS COMMUNITY.

[GLASS CRACKING] I'M THINKING OF TAKING SOME OF THE BROKEN CERAMIC THAT I FOUND, AND MAKING A MOSAIC TABLE OR SOMETHING, JUST TO REMEMBER THIS PLACE AND OUR NEW PLACE.

WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO BUILD BACK SOMETHING REALLY AMAZING.

KEVIN WAS READING MILES A BOOK ABOUT POLAR BEARS.

AND POLAR BEARS ARE ONE OF MILES' ABSOLUTE FAVORITE ANIMALS.

AND HE HAD LEARNED THAT THEY'RE ENDANGERED.

MILES STARTED CRYING BECAUSE OF THE ENDANGERED ANIMALS AND HOW HE WANTS TO SAVE THEM ALL.

WE JUST LOOKED AT EACH OTHER, AND WE WERE LIKE, "YEAH, WE HAVE TO BUILD A PASSIVE HOUSE."

- PASSIVE HOUSE IS A CERTIFICATION, AND IT'S A METHODOLOGY OF BUILDING A STRUCTURE.

THE GOAL IS REALLY TO KEEP IN ALL THE HEAT OR THE COOL OR THE COMFORT OF THE HOUSE SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE A LOT OF ENERGY.

YOU'RE MORE PASSIVELY HEATING AND COOLING THE HOUSE.

- THERE'S NO LEAKY WINDOWS OR LEAKY DOORS.

- NOT A LOT OF DUST.

NOT A LOT OF ALLERGENS.

NOT A LOT OF BUGS.

- WHEN YOU WALK INTO A PASSIVE HOUSE, IT SMELLS LIKE FRESH AIR.

AIR IS JUST CONTINUALLY BEING CIRCULATED.

- IT'S VERY QUIET.

YOU DON'T HEAR A LOT OF THINGS FROM THE STREET.

- IT'S REALLY GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH TO LIVE THAT WAY.

- IT'S ALL SUPPOSED TO LEAD TO A VERY, VERY COMFORTABLE EXPERIENCE IN THE HOUSE.

- IT'S JUST REALLY EXCITING TO REALLY KNOW HOW YOUR HOUSE IS BUILT AND UNDERSTAND THE SCIENCE BEHIND IT.

- WHENEVER WE TALK ABOUT REBUILDING, THERE'S ALWAYS A LEVEL OF EXCITEMENT.

AND THERE'S ALWAYS A DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING.

- THE FIRE WAS JUST BEHIND THOSE HOUSES AT THE END OF THE CUL-DE-SAC THERE.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF TOWNHOUSES THERE THAT BURNED.

AND THAT INTENSE SMOKE AND ALL THOSE EMBERS WERE BLOWING THIS WAY ON THAT DAY.

THE WIND WAS COMING WEST TO EAST.

THAT HOUSE KIND OF DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM MINE, THAT CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REALIZING IT.

AND THE DESTRUCTION WAS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT BEFORE THEY EVEN GOT TO THE POINT WHERE THEY COULD PUT IT OUT.

I'M MARK ATTARD.

I'M AN OPERATIONS MANAGER FOR A CUSTOM HOMEBUILDER IN BOULDER THAT SPECIALIZES IN PASSIVE HOME CONSTRUCTION.

I HAD DONE A NUMBER OF THINGS TO MY HOME OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS TO MAKE IT MORE ENERGY-EFFICIENT, TO MAKE IT MORE COMFORTABLE.

BUT IT ALSO HAD THIS SIDE EFFECT OF MAKING IT A LITTLE BIT MORE RESISTANT TO THE EFFECTS OF THE FIRE.

WE DIDN'T REALLY EVEN EXPECT TO COME BACK TO ANY HOUSE.

AND WHEN WE DID, WE WERE SUPER SURPRISED.

IF YOU CAN IMAGINE, FOR 12 HOURS, YOUR HOUSE BEING ENCOMPASSED IN THAT KIND OF INTENSE SMOKE, IT WOULD BE SUPER EXPECTANT THAT YOU WOULD WALK INTO A HOUSE THAT WOULD HAVE A LOT OF SMOKE DAMAGE TO IT.

I WAS ABLE TO WALK INTO THE HOUSE AND NOT SMELL ANY OF THAT SMOKE.

BECAUSE I HAD TAKEN MY HOUSE ALL THE WAY FROM A TYPICAL HOUSE BUILT IN THE 80S, USING GAS APPLIANCES, TO A HOUSE THAT WAS 100% ELECTRIC.

I WAS ABLE TO TURN ON MY WHOLE-HOUSE VENTILATION SYSTEM AND SIT IN MY HOUSE WHILE THERE WAS STILL A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SMOKE AROUND IN THE AREA, AND LIVE IN OUR HOUSE THE DAY AFTER THE FIRES, NOT HAVING TO REPLACE FURNITURE, NOT HAVING TO HAVE CONTRACTORS IN OUR HOUSE FOR A MONTH, TWO MONTHS, THREE MONTHS, BACK TO NORMAL AS BEST AS WE POSSIBLY COULD BE, GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

MY NEIGHBORS HAD TO START THE PROCESS OF CONTACTING CONTRACTORS WHO SPECIALIZED IN SMOKE MITIGATION AND FIRE DAMAGE.

SOME OF THEM WERE HAVING TO TEAR DRYWALL OUT DOWN THE STUDS, PULL OUT INSULATION, REINSULATE.

THERE'S A HOST OF THINGS THAT THEY HAD TO DEAL WITH, ALL THE WHILE FINDING A PLACE TO LIVE BECAUSE THEY WERE ALL DEPENDENT UPON GAS FOR THEIR HEATING SYSTEMS.

THAT SMELL IS WHAT YOU SMELLED FOR A NUMBER OF WEEKS AFTER THE FIRES FOR MOST FOLKS.

IF YOU WERE TO LOOK AROUND AT THE OTHER HOUSES AROUND HERE--IN FACT, YOU CAN SEE ON MY NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE UP HERE, THEY'VE GOT AN ATTIC VENT RIGHT HERE THAT'S OPEN.

I DON'T HAVE THOSE ATTIC VENTS IN MY HOUSE.

THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO HAVE AN ELECTRIC FURNACE.

WHEN THIS TURNS ON, WHEN WE'RE HEATING THE HOUSE, IT'S GOING TO EXTRACT--IT'S GOING TO EXTRACT ENERGY OUT OF THE AIR AROUND HERE, AND IT'S GOING TO USE THAT TO CREATE THE HEAT INSIDE THE HOUSE.

AND THEN IT GETS DISTRIBUTED WITH WHAT LOOKS LIKE A NORMAL FURNACE ON THE INSIDE.

WHEN WE'RE COOLING, IT RUNS IN REVERSE.

AND SO, IT'S ALL BASED ON USING COOLANT LINES.

IT'S VERY SCIENCE-Y, SO WHEN YOU'RE BUILDING THE HOUSE, YOU'RE NOT JUST...

LOOKING AT A SET OF PLANS AND SAYING, "OK, THIS STUD GOES HERE.

THIS WINDOW GOES HERE."

YOU ARE ACTUALLY MODELING THE HOUSE BEFOREHAND AND LOOKING AT ALL THE COMPONENTS AND HOW IT AFFECTS THERMAL COMFORT OF THE HOUSE, HOW IT AFFECTS THE INDOOR AIR QUALITY OF THE HOUSE.

IT'S A WHOLE OTHER THING WHEN YOU HAVE ALL OF THESE COMPONENTS THAT HAVE COME TOGETHER, AND YOU LIVE THROUGH THIS CLIMATE EVENT THAT WE LIVED THROUGH NOT THAT LONG AGO, AND YOU COME OUT THE OTHER END THE BETTER FOR IT.

AND PEOPLE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT A HOUSE BEING A SANCTUARY.

THIS IS ACTUALLY, TRULY A SANCTUARY.

EVERYBODY SHOULD EXPERIENCE--EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE THAT.

EVERYBODY SHOULD DEMAND THAT, ACTUALLY.

- THERE'S A SYNERGY BETWEEN HIGH PERFORMANCE AND FIRE RESILIENT DESIGN IN BUILDINGS.

THE SHAPE OF THE BUILDING IS SIMPLIFIED TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF HEAT LOSS THROUGH SURFACE AREA.

AND THAT HAPPENS TO WORK VERY WELL WITH A FIRE EVENT, AS WELL.

ONE WAY TO THINK ABOUT FIRE RESILIENCE IS TO THINK ABOUT BEING A LOG.

WHEN YOU TRY TO START A FIRE, YOU DON'T USUALLY JUST THROW LOGS ON AND THEN PUT A MATCH TO IT.

IT'S MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO BURN A LOG THAN IT IS WHEN YOU START A FIRE WITH MANY SMALL STICKS, OF COURSE.

AND THEN YOU PUT A LOG IN LATER.

FIRE RESILIENCE IS THE SAME WAY WITH BUILDINGS, WHERE WE TRY TO REDUCE THOSE SMALL POINTS OF WHERE A FIRE CAN GET INTO A BUILDING.

AND THEN A LOG WOULD BE SIMILAR TO THE IDEA OF A FORM FACTOR WHERE THERE'S TOO MUCH SURFACE AREA FOR A SMALL FIRE TO HIT IT.

A SIGNIFICANT FIRE EVENT CAN BURN JUST ABOUT ANY TYPE OF BUILDING, BUT IT'S MUCH MORE REDUCED WHEN YOU MAKE IT LESS COMPLIANT TO STARTING SMALL FIRES AROUND A BUILDING OR EVEN INSIDE THE BUILDING ITSELF THROUGH VENTS OR THROUGH BREAKS WITHIN THE FABRIC OF THE BUILDING.

THE LAST FIRE HERE WAS THE CAMERON PEAK FIRE JUST A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

AND THAT CAME RIGHT UP TO THE PROPERTY THAT WE'RE ON AND BURNED ABOUT HALF OF THE MOUNTAIN THAT WE LIVE IN, MAYBE TWO-THIRDS OF THE MOUNTAIN WE'RE ON, AND TORE THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

BURNED ABOUT 11 HOMES.

WE WERE EVACUATED FOR 18 DAYS.

AND THE FIRE CREPT RIGHT UP TO THE EDGE OF THE PROPERTY.

THAT WAS A LONG 18 DAYS.

MY NAME'S ANDREW MICHLER, AND I'M A PASSIVE HOUSE DESIGNER.

AND I'VE BEEN DEVELOPING AND DESIGNING PASSIVE HOUSES IN COLORADO FOR ABOUT EIGHT OR SO YEARS.

WE'RE SITTING IN THE FIRST PROJECT I COMPLETED UP HERE IN THE MASONVILLE AREA, NEAR FORT COLLINS AND LOVELAND.

THIS WAS THE FIRST CERTIFIED PASSIVE HOUSE IN COLORADO.

THIS IS A PASSIVE HOUSE PLAQUE, WHEN YOU GET CERTIFIED THROUGH THE PASSIVE HOUSE INSTITUTE INTERNATIONAL.

WHEN I FIRST BUILT THE HOUSE, I WAS THINKING ABOUT FIRE AS ONE OF THE MAIN ELEMENTS THAT I DESIGNED FOR.

WHEN IT COMES TO A FIRE, OFTEN, IT'S EASY FOR DEBRIS, LIKE DRY GRASS, PINE NEEDLES, THINGS LIKE THAT, TO BE A PLACE TO SUPPORT A SMALL FIRE.

MOST BUILDINGS START FROM DEBRIS AROUND THE BUILDING ITSELF, SO HAVING METAL WHERE YOU HAVE THOSE CONDITIONS, AND THEN EVEN BEHIND THAT, HAVING INSULATION THAT DOESN'T BURN.

MOST OF THE SIDING WE LIKE TO USE NOW IS HARDIE BOARD, OR A CEMENT BOARD SIDING, WHICH LITERALLY DOES NOT BURN.

NOW WE'RE SEEING HOW FIRE IMPACTS URBAN COMMUNITIES AND SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES.

AND IRONICALLY, A LOT OF THESE EFFECTS ARE THE RESULT, OR MAGNIFIED BY, CLIMATE CHANGE.

ONE OF THE MAJOR COMPONENTS OF WHY NEIGHBORHOODS BURN IS THAT ONE HOUSE THAT BURNS LEADS TO THE NEXT HOUSE THAT BURNS AND LEADS TO THE NEXT HOUSE THAT BURNS.

IT'S A DOMINO EFFECT.

SO, THE MORE PROTECTED EACH HOUSE IS FROM FIRE, THE MORE THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTS ITSELF FROM FIRE.

ONCE WE HAVE A HOUSE THAT OPTIMIZED, WELL DESIGNED, AND TRAINED CREWS AND A PROCESS, WE CAN REALLY LOWER THE COST, AS WELL AS IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE DURABILITY OF THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND THE COST SHOULDN'T BE VERY MUCH MORE, IF AT ALL, COMPARED TO A CONVENTIONAL, SEMI-CUSTOM DESIGNED HOME.

XCEL ENERGY IS GIVING AWAY A SIGNIFICANT REBATE, $37,500, FOR PEOPLE WHO CERTIFY TO THE PASSIVE HOUSE STANDARD.

THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY.

THAT'S THE MOST AMOUNT OF MONEY IN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES THAT'S EVER BEEN APPLIED FOR A CERTIFICATION BEFORE.

(MUSIC PLAYING) THIS IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE DON'T SEE TOO OFTEN, OF COMMUNITIES COMING TOGETHER AND BUILDING A MORE FUTURE-ORIENTED COMMUNITY.

WE SHOULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE DELIBERATE, IN GENERAL, ON HOW WE DESIGN AND BUILD HOMES.

WE SHOULDN'T THINK JUST ABOUT BUILDING BACK, BUT WE NEED TO BUILD FORWARD.

AND THINKING ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO LIVE IN A HOME A DECADE FROM NOW, WHAT KIND OF WORLD ARE THEY GOING TO LIVE IN, WHAT KIND OF HOME SHOULD THEY LIVE IN.

AND WE'RE MAKING THOSE DECISIONS FOR THEM RIGHT NOW.

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