The UCCS campus is now more protected from wildfires thanks to mitigation efforts by the Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD).
The CSFD mitigated nearly 19 acres of UCCS property, reducing woody biomass by about 50% and eliminating what’s known as “ladder fuels,” which are plants that can carry a fire burning in low-growing vegetation to taller vegetation.
“Fires become much more difficult to fight when they reach the tops of trees,” explained Cory Ashby, Wildfire Program Coordinator.
Vegetation was left in the mitigated areas in groups and clumps, maintaining the natural character of the land while also creating a more defensible space.
“We never clear-cut or anything like that,” said Ashby. “We’re just breaking up the heterogeneity of the landscape and removing overgrown vegetation.”
Certain areas of campus were left untouched due to the presence of cultural sites. Some areas were also too steep for the mitigation equipment.
The project costs were covered by the 2D voter passed ballot measure for city-wide and regional wildfire mitigation.
This project was considered a re-mitigation effort, as the land around UCCS had been treated about eight years ago. The area will need re-mitigation in about 5-10 years, depending on how quickly plants like oak grow back.
For more information about fire mitigation and what you can do to protect your property, check out this CSFD document.