Key numbers
103 verified hail storms with stones of 1.5 inches or larger reached El Paso County, which includes Black Forest, from 2000 to 2025 in the storm records we keep; the largest measured 4.5 inches (softball size) on July 13, 2011 (NOAA NCEI).
| Hail storms by decade, 2000 to 2025 | 2000s: 35, 2010s: 44, 2020s: 24 Source: Storm library: El Paso County hail history |
|---|---|
| Largest hail | 4.5 in. (softball), July 13, 2011 Source: NOAA NCEI |
| Costliest hail storm | $352.8 million insured losses (2016 dollars), July 28, 2016 Source: RMIIA |
| 6 | IBHS's Wildfire Prepared Home requires 6 inches of noncombustible siding or exposed foundation at the base of exterior walls and above attached decks. Source: Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner |
| 66.2% | 66.2% of occupied housing units in El Paso County were owner-occupied in 2020-2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 |
| 14 | IBHS's Wildfire Prepared Home designation is available in 14 western and southern states, including Colorado. Source: Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), 2026 |
A storm counts when the library lists El Paso County among the areas it hit. Each hail size is the storm's largest report, which may have fallen in a neighboring county, and insured losses cover every area the storm hit.
Hail history by ZIP (NOAA reports since 1996; linked ZIPs have a full page, method)
| ZIP | Area | 1 in.+ reports | Largest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80908 | Black Forest | 73 | 3 in. |
| 80106 | Black Forest | 49 | 2.5 in. |
A new roof in Black Forest needs a Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (PPRBD) permit, and if your parcel is on the state’s 2025 wildfire map, El Paso County now requires it to meet the county’s wildfire standards (Appendix E of the Land Development Code) for applications submitted on or after July 1, 2026. For the roof that means a Class A roof covering or assembly, 26-gauge metal valley flashing over a 36-inch cap sheet, noncombustible gutters and downspouts, and ember-resistant attic vents. Replace 25 percent or more of an existing roof covering, and the whole roof has to meet the standard. Black Forest is also high: the National Weather Service forecast point near the community is about 7,400 feet, which brings PPRBD’s ice barrier rule into play.
Why Black Forest is different
The Black Forest Fire began on June 11, 2013, burned 14,280 acres and destroyed 511 homes, according to the National Weather Service in Pueblo. The county’s standards focus on the places embers can lodge or get in: the roof covering itself, the valleys, gutters full of pine needles, and attic vents. If your current roof is cedar, read about the fire hazards of cedar shake roofs before choosing a replacement.
The Appendix E roof checklist
| Part of the roof | What El Paso County requires |
|---|---|
| Roof covering | Class A when tested to ASTM E108 or UL 790 |
| Gaps under the covering | Where the profile leaves a space above the deck (tile, some metal), block flames and embers with noncombustible firestopping, a cap sheet over the deck, or a listed Class A assembly |
| Valleys | Corrosion-resistant metal at least 0.019 inch (26 gauge) over a 36-inch-wide cap sheet, full length |
| Gutters and downspouts | Noncombustible material |
| Attic vents | Listed ember- and flame-tested vents, or noncombustible corrosion-resistant mesh with openings no larger than 1/8 inch |
| Partial replacements | 25% or more of the roof covering replaced means the entire roof covering must comply |
Low fire intensity areas follow these Class 1 requirements. Moderate and high areas add Class 2 requirements, such as protecting eaves and soffits. Homes and landscaping that existed before Appendix E do not have to be changed, but a new roof does. Our Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code guide explains the map classes and the 25 percent rule, our ember-resistant vents guide covers the vent options, and our defensible space zones guide covers the first 5 feet around the house.
Who signs off?
Inside a fire district, the district reviews compliance. Outside one, the county requires an owner’s affidavit before approval. Either way, PPRBD still issues the building permit and inspects the roof, and a PPRBD-licensed contractor must pull it.
Hail and snow in the pines
NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center logged 2-inch hail about 2 miles east-northeast of Black Forest on July 4, 2010, and 1.5- to 1.75-inch hail 3 to 5 miles south and southwest of Black Forest on July 28, 2016. Above 7,000 feet, PPRBD’s design snow load is 57 pounds per square foot. A Class 4 impact-resistant shingle or a standing seam metal roof answers both problems; for metal options here, see metal roofers in Black Forest.
Neighbors and next steps
Nearby: Monument to the west, Falcon and Peyton to the east, and the Elbert area to the northeast. All towns are on our service area list.
We are veteran-owned, family-run since 1990, an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor, and have 650+ Google reviews. Call (719) 488-2800 or ask for a free roof inspection; we reply the same business day.
Sources: El Paso County, PCD Quick Tips: Wildfire Resiliency Requirements; El Paso County Land Development Code, Appendix E: Wildfire Resiliency Requirements; PPRBD Reroofing Guidelines (rev. 03/05/2024); PPRBD, Basic Design Information (updated 06/30/2026); National Weather Service Pueblo, 2013 fires; National Weather Service point forecast near Black Forest (elevation); NOAA Storm Prediction Center storm reports for July 4, 2010 and July 28, 2016 (preliminary).
