(COLORADO SPRINGS) — The Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) Wildfire Mitigation Section and U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service have formed a first of its kind in the state of Colorado, partnership to improve firefighter safety and wildfire protection for the wildland urban interface (WUI).

CSFD said the partnership’s goal is to reduce the risk of high-severity wildfire, improve the health and resiliency of forested lands, and increase firefighter safety during wildfire suppression efforts in and near the city of Colorado Springs WUI. The agreement will allow agencies to leverage funds, communications, and resources from the Forest Service and CSFD, according to the fire department.

Under the agreement, CSFD can contract for wildfire mitigation and/or suppression work on lands managed by the Forest Service. CSFD said the flexibility between contracting and leveraging CSFD resources allows for greater opportunities for wildfire risk reduction.

According to CSFD, the Colorado Springs WUI spans 32,655 acres, making it one of the largest WUI zones in the state of Colorado. Completing wildfire mitigation across the entire WUI is not feasible due to factors like access and cost.

CSFD said as part of the agreement, those living near WUI can expect to see removal, chipping, or mastication of small to intermediate-sized vegetation, mostly along roadways. Work is expected to start in August 2025 along Old State Road and Gold Camp Road, and project completion is projected for November 2026.