Facing Wildfire Risk In Ouray County: Insights from Experts

As wildfires and other climate related natural disasters become more frequent and severe, how can Ouray County prepare and adapt to this new reality? This panel discussion will bring together key voices from local government, wildfire management, and state insurance policy to provide a comprehensive look at how our region, and specifically how Ouray County is addressing this growing threat of wildfires.

Following a brief film viewing about the Log Hill Mesa project, this panel will address the evolving landscape of wildfire-related insurance challenges in Colorado, strategic mitigation planning at the homeowner and community levels, and the role of local government in coordinating preparedness and response.

Moderator:

Tim Pinnow, Executive Director, West Region Wildfire Council

Tim Pinnow joined the West Region Wildfire Council in 2025. With over 30 years in non-profits and higher education, he was originally trained as a classical actor and spent 20+ years as a university theatre professor and administrator. Tim has held leadership roles at Colorado Mesa University, Finlandia University, and Alma College. In his free time, he enjoys fly-fishing and home cheesemaking.

Panelists:

Aaron Johnson, Chief Operating Officer, West Region Wildfire Council

Aaron Johnson is the Chief Operations Officer with the West Region Wildfire Council. With a diverse background in firefighting and mitigation, Aaron has served with agencies across the country and worked extensively with communities on wildfire risk reduction. At WRWC, Aaron works on cross-boundary fuels reduction projects, homeowner and landowner assistance programs, and builds strategic partnerships with stakeholders. He is passionate about turning science into actionable steps that help residents protect their homes, adapt to changing wildfire conditions, and support mitigation at the community scale.

Jake Niece, Board of County Commissioner, Ouray County

Jake Niece is a Ouray County Commissioner who counts wildfire mitigation as a top priority. He previously worked as a wildland firefighter for eight years including time as a Hotshot and Engine Boss, and is working to avoid wildfire devastation in Ouray County that he has witnessed in other small mountain communities across the western United States.

Jason D. Lapham, Deputy Commissioner for Property and Casualty Insurance, Colorado Division of Insurance

Jason Lapham is the Deputy Commissioner for Property and Casualty Insurance at the Colorado Division of Insurance. He oversees the P&C Consumer Services and Rates and Forms teams and plays a key role in addressing affordability and availability issues in the homeowners insurance market. Jason also leads the Division’s implementation of SB21-169, focused on ensuring fairness in insurers’ use of consumer data, algorithms, and predictive models.

Before joining the Colorado DOI in 2016, he spent a decade with the Kansas Insurance Department in various roles, including Director of Producer Licensing and Market Regulation. Jason is active in the NAIC and currently chairs the Third-Party Data and Models (H) Working Group.