~ Colorado Springs, CO - The Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) Wildfire Mitigation Section and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service have joined forces in a groundbreaking partnership to reduce the risk of high-severity wildfires in and around the city's wildland urban interface (WUI). This collaboration marks the first of its kind in the state of Colorado.

The partnership aims to improve the health and resiliency of forested lands, as well as increase firefighter safety during wildfire suppression efforts. By leveraging funds, communications, and resources from both agencies, this agreement allows for greater opportunities for wildfire risk reduction.

According to officials, completing wildfire mitigation across the entire WUI is not feasible due to factors such as access and cost. The City of Colorado Springs WUI spans over 32,000 acres, making it one of the largest WUI zones in the state. With nearly 24% of the city's population living in this area, there is an increased risk of experiencing devastating impacts from high-severity wildfires. Additionally, over 22 miles of this zone is bordered by lands managed by the Forest Service.

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Under this partnership, CSFD will have the ability to contract wildfire mitigation and/or suppression work on Forest Service-managed lands. This flexibility allows for a variety of methods to be used in reducing wildfire risk.

Residents living in and near the Colorado Springs WUI can expect to see removal, chipping, or mastication of small to intermediate-sized vegetation along roadway corridors as part of this project. A combination of small and large machines will be used for this work including masticators, harvesters, forwarders, skidders, brush hogs, mowers, chippers as well as chainsaws and non-motorized hand tools.

The specific type and amount of forest vegetation that will be cut or removed will vary based on each project's objectives and specific vegetation types in that area. The project is set to begin in August 2025 along Old Stage Road (National Forest System Road [NSFD] 368) and Gold Camp Road (NFSR 370), with a projected completion date of November 2026. A map detailing the project area can be found attached to this article.

This partnership between CSFD and the Forest Service is a significant step towards reducing the risk of high-severity wildfires in the Colorado Springs WUI. By working together, these agencies hope to improve the health and safety of both residents and firefighters in the area.

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