City highlights progress in wildfire mitigation efforts, calls on residents to prepare amid elevated fire danger

Mayor Yemi Mobolade and the Colorado Springs Fire Department today highlighted significant progress in wildfire mitigation efforts during a press conference held near the Waldo Canyon burn scar area along Rampart Range Road, reinforcing the importance of continued community action amid elevated fire risk conditions. City leaders emphasized both the urgency of current wildfire conditions and the measurable outcomes of sustained mitigation investments, including expanded neighborhood partnerships, increased fuel reduction work, and growing resident participation.

"Since 2022, mitigation efforts have increased by 60 percent, our chipping program has grown by nearly 80 percent, and we've more than doubled the number of neighborhoods engaged in this work," said Mayor Yemi Mobolade. "That is real progress, and it's making our community safer. But just as important, this progress belongs to our residents, who are stepping up every day to share in the responsibility of protecting their homes and neighborhoods."

"This is the worst fire season I have seen in my career as a firefighter. The work our Wildfire Mitigation Section and our community have done on mitigation is exactly what it takes to building a strong layer of protection around our city," said Fire Chief Randy Royal. "Mitigation is not the finish line. It is a critical layer of defense, and the risks right now is still very real. We cannot let our guard down."

Wildfire risk remains high this year due to record-low moisture, low humidity, and record-breaking temperatures. Recent incidents, including multiple suspected human-caused fires in Palmer Park and Broadmoor Bluffs, underscore the importance of both prevention and preparedness.

Accelerated mitigation impact since voter-approved funding

Since the passage of Ballot Issue 2D in 2021, which invested $20 million into mitigation without raising taxes, the City has significantly increased the pace and scale of its work:

• Annual acres treated through project work, the chipping program, and the cost-share stipend program have increased from approximately 1,800 acres per year (2010-2021) to nearly 3,000 acres per year (2022-2025), a 60% increase.
• Average homes served through the chipping program have nearly doubled, from about 3,400 per year (2010-2021) to more than 6,100 per year (2022-2025), a 78% increase.
• In just four years, cost-share stipend mitigation work has exceeded the total completed in the previous 11 years.
• From 2010 through 2025, the City has treated more than 32,000 acres for wildfire mitigation, with 2D funds supporting approximately 1,000 acres of additional mitigation work each year.
• The City's Wildfire Mitigation Section has expanded its community engagement from 66 to 143 homeowner associations and neighborhoods in the wildland urban interface, more than doubling its reach since the Waldo Canyon Fire.
• Since 2022, homeowners have contributed more than 220,000 hours of mitigation work on their own properties, clearing vegetation and creating defensible space.

Major mitigation projects completed and underway

Completed projects:

• Stratton Open Space - 266.7 acres
• Palmer Park - 136.5 acres
• Cedar Heights - 181.4 acres
• Golden Hills HOA - 5.01 acres

Projects currently underway:

• Blodgett Open Space - 140 of 154.3 acres complete
• Gold Stage - 130 of 407 acres complete
• Cheyenne Mountain State Park - 63 of 118.6 acres complete

Preparedness remains critical - Ready, Set, Go

Alongside mitigation, the City is urging residents to take personal preparedness steps through the Ready, Set, Go wildfire campaign:

• Ready: Prepare homes and families in advance by reducing fuels, signing up for Peak Alerts, and creating evacuation plans.
• Set: Stay alert to fire conditions and be prepared to leave quickly.
• Go: Evacuate immediately and listen to first responders.

"Wildfire safety is a shared responsibility," said Mobolade. "Government can prepare, and first responders can respond, but it takes all of us working together to reduce risk and protect our community."

The City will continue investing in mitigation, strengthening emergency coordination, and expanding outreach to ensure residents have the tools and information needed to stay safe.

For more information on wildfire preparedness, visit ColoradoSprings.gov/ReadySetGo.