Claire Lavezzorio is a reporter at KMGH Denver7 in Denver, Colorado.
The Colorado Department of Transportation is reallocating $12 million in unused snow and ice contingency funds to wildfire mitigation efforts following a mild and dry winter. CDOT Deputy Director of Operations Bob Fifer showed Denver7 a map of where wildfire mitigation efforts will take place this spring.
He noted the agency is targeting areas with the highest burn probability in the state.'We are tripling our mitigation efforts with this money,' Fifer said.Fifer said he does not recall ever having that much contingency funding available for fire mitigation.The mitigation work will span across several regions. Crews will mitigate trees within 15 feet of the right of way or road that are 50% or more dead or diseased.'We are looking at all the counties, from Teller and El Paso County all the way up to Larimer County, and from Jefferson County all the way out to Garfield County,' Fifer said.Highway 72 in Coal Creek Canyon is at the top of the list due to dry brush located close to the road.'It’s going to be a heavy lift, but a well-needed one right now,' Fifer said.The summer-like weather has Coloradans like Sophie Wright spending time outdoors, but the conditions also spark concern about wildfire risk.'The vulnerability here is very high, and so it does freak me out for sure,' Wright said.With crews set to start the mitigation work in mid-April, Wright said she is happy to see the snowplow funds pivot to protect communities.'Hearing that the money is getting like allocated towards that is definitely good to hear,' Wright said.This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
Colorado Colorado Department Of Transportation Coal Creek Canyon Contingency Funding Highway 72 Snowplow Funds Wildfire Mitigation
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Why Gov’t Mule’s Legendary Guitarist Loves ColoradoWarren Hayes brings Gov't Mule to Mission Ballroom on Friday, March 27. Here's why he keeps returning to Colorado.
Read more »
Colorado River negotiations have stalled among 7 states and water is scarce. What happens next?Karen Schlatter is the director of the Colorado Water Center at Colorado State University.
Read more »
Loveland searches for solutions to address homelessness as closure of resource center loomsClaire Lavezzorio is a reporter at KMGH Denver7 in Denver, Colorado.
Read more »
March Madness May Cost Employers Over $12 Billion in Lost ProductivityNew data from Challenger, Gray and Christmas predicts that the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament could cost employers over $12 billion in lost productivity due to employee engagement in the event.
Read more »
Can't get your kid to sleep? These $12 gummies could help — and there’s a bonus benefitThis drug-free nighttime solution is designed with kids in mind. It combines calcium and magnesium without any extra fluff, plus just a touch of sugar for a taste that kids love. The simple formula is completely free of top allergens (including peanuts, dairy, fish, eggs, tree nuts, wheat, and soy), and the ingredients are GMO-free.
Read more »
Taylor Swift's Eras Tour red lip liner is just $12 during Amazon's Big Spring SaleSmashbox Be Legendary Line & Prime Pencil is a precise, comfortable, cruelty free lip liner infused with Primer Oil Complex & tested at Smashbox Studios. Make up, sculpt & define lips instantly.
Read more »