Lower North Fork Fire panel releases final report

A panel that reviewed the deadly Lower North Fork Fire, which grew from a prescribed burn on state land in March, says it’s time to explore raising a cap on state liability.

Colorado legislators last year passed a bill allowing victims of the fire to seek compensation beyond the $600,000 cap. The Lower North Fork Wildfire Commission said in a December report that the situation illustrates the cap is inadequate.

The commission also proposed legislation that would require the adoption of standards for prescribed burns, create a committee to review state policies on wildfire prevention and mitigation, extend financial incentives for wildfire mitigation, and require the development of a statewide resource mobilization plan.

KMGH-TV in Denver reports the panel didn’t assign blame for the fire.