Organizers combine efforts to help Black Forest

A community group is becoming a nonprofit organization to help Black Forest recover from the June wildfire that destroyed nearly 500 homes.

The organization, known as Black Forest Together, is reminiscent of the group Colorado Springs Together that helped victims of last summer’s Waldo Canyon Fire recover and rebuild.

BFT is a combination of several groups that had formed to help the community. It’s now grown to more than 60 members. BFT’s goal is finding people who need assistance and directing them to necessary resources, as well as gathering community support.

“We’re trying to flush out those items and track them in terms of progress, to basically recover, rebuild and restore the Black Forest community up here,” said Ed Bracken, BFT’s co-chairman.

The BFT office is in the Black Forest Fire Station near the intersection of Black Forest and Burgess roads.

For more information, visit BFT’s website: http://www.blackforesttogether.org