COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – A significant wildfire mitigation challenge aimed toward defending neighborhoods and public lands has formally wrapped up within the Stratton Open House, and hearth officers say it couldn’t have come at a greater time.
The hassle was a joint challenge between the Colorado Springs Hearth Division (CSFD) and town’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Providers Division. Over the span of a number of months, crews handled greater than 266 acres throughout three websites—together with Stratton—by eradicating dense vegetation, diseased timber, overgrown shrubs, and ladder fuels that pose a threat throughout hearth season.
The aim? To sluggish the unfold of potential wildfires, defend close by properties, and scale back hearth depth in susceptible areas close to the wildland-urban interface.
“Such a work is vital,” mentioned Cory Ashby, Wildfire Program Administrator with CSFD. “Our workforce is dedicated to treating the panorama, educating our populous, and ensuring the phrase is out about what we’re doing to reduce the danger throughout Colorado Springs.”
The challenge started in August 2024 and was accomplished in March 2025. Funding got here primarily from the 2D TABOR fund—permitted by voters particularly for wildfire preparedness initiatives.
Along with the general public lands work, CSFD is encouraging residents to take steps at house to scale back threat. Owners are being requested to clear vegetation, particularly flammable timber like junipers, conifers, and evergreens, and keep a spacing of 15 to 30 toes between timber to assist stop the unfold of wildfires.
“This can be a workforce effort,” mentioned Ashby. “When everybody does their half, each metropolis crews and particular person owners, we’ve got a a lot better likelihood of defending lives and property throughout hearth season.”
For extra tips about the best way to mitigate wildfire threat at house, go to coloradosprings.gov/fire.
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