Owners of homes destroyed in the High Park fire have begun filing insurance claims for property losses and emergency living expenses.

Other homeowners on the periphery of the massive wildfire are continuing efforts to create defensible spaces in an attempt to keep flames at bay.

State Farm said Tuesday that it has received about 60 claims for complete structural losses among the confirmed 189 buildings destroyed by the fire.

Members of the Smith family of Fort Collins returned Tuesday to their vacation cabin in the Cache la Poudre canyon — a few miles west of the fire — to continue mitigation efforts.

"We've raked up pine needles and pine cones and thrown them in the river," said Cindy Smith.

"We've always done a really good job with mitigation in terms of keeping the trees trimmed and the grass cut. Now we're kind of at Mother Nature's mercy."

Unlike California, which requires homeowners to reduce or eliminate flammable materials and vegetation within 100 feet of their homes, Colorado has no similar defensible-space law. However, property insurers can mandate the space as a condition of issuing policies.

"Brush clearance is No. 1 when it comes to being prepared," said Farmers Insurance spokesman Jerry Davies.

Officials of insurance companies said they can't yet estimate the number of claims that may be filed or the extent of property losses from the High Park fire.

"It's really too early to tell because we don't have access to our customers' property and therefore don't know the extent of all the damages," said Kevin Hanson, a large-loss claims team manager for State Farm.

Insurance experts said the fire serves as a grim reminder to homeowners to keep their coverage updated.

"The majority of people have insurance on their permanent primary residence because it is required for a mortgage. The gaps tend to exist with secondary homes or mountain cabins that are paid off and may be less expensive," said Carole Walker, executive director of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association.

Walker recommended that homeowners insure for full replacement costs instead of just market value, which may not cover the complete costs of rebuilding.

Experts advise that homeowners keep financial documents and home-inventory lists in safe locations away from homes.

However, insurance companies are prepared to begin processing claims without supporting paperwork.

"If you were to forget to grab your insurance paperwork as you were evacuated, you would be fine," said Allstate spokeswoman Stephanie Howell.

Steve Raabe: 303-954-1948 or sraabe@denverpost.com