Big Task Of Repairing Hewlett Fire Damage Now Begins

LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) - The Hewlett fire in Larimer County is now fully contained after burning longer than a week. More than 12 square miles of land is now barren and scorched. Now experts are starting the big task of repairing that damage.

Now that the fire is contained a group of resource specialists, including hydrologists, biologists and engineers are focusing their attention on how to deal with the burn area.

"As of Tuesday evening the fire was 100 percent contained," Kim Obele with the U.S. Forest Service said.

Close to 600 firefighters fought the blaze that charred more than 7,500 acres. Now that the fire is contained work begins for a team of highly-trained specialists called the Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation Team.

"These resources are doing their assessment within the first week of full containment," Obele said.

The team is looking at the burned acreage to find out what, if any, resources need their attention.

"They are using existing information and field observations to put together an assessment to propose treatments," Obele said.

Treatments could include mulching a burned hillside to prevent erosion, or reseeding an area.

With two popular trails being affected by the Hewlett fire -- the Hewlett Gulch Trail and the Greyrock Trail -- they'll also ensure the safety of hikers and bikers.

"We're trying to assess when those trails will reopen and if there are any hazards that need to be mitigated for the public safety."

They hope to have their plan complete on the fire by next week.

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