COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – Over the last few weeks, southern Colorado communities have seen firsthand how easily high winds and low humidity can turn a single spark into a major disaster, most recently with the Aspen Acres fire.
Now, as the state heads into the hottest part of the year, a dedicated group of volunteers is working on the ground to stop the next disaster before it can even start. Up in Teller County, the veteran-led, non-profit group, Team Rubicon, has spent nearly two weeks thinning dense forest areas and ladder fuels.
By using chainsaws to clear away low-hanging branches and thick underbrush, the volunteer group aims to break the path a fire needs to climb. If crews can successfully keep a future wildfire grounded on the forest floor, it becomes significantly easier and safer for local fire departments to quickly contain it. However, experts emphasize that true wildfire mitigation cannot just stop at the tree line. It has to move right up to the doorstep of residents…