Colorado lawmakers give first pass on wildfire campaign bill

By PATTY NIEBERG
Associated Press/Report for America

DENVER (AP) — Colorado lawmakers passed a bill to increase wildfire mitigation efforts just a month since a devastating fire tore through suburbs north of Denver. The fire destroyed more than 1,000 homes and businesses and killed at least one person. The bill is scheduled to be heard Tuesday afternoon in the Senate Local Government committee. The measure creates a working group of federal, state and local fire and public safety officials to increase wildfire education with yearly outreach campaigns on wildfire awareness and mitigation. The Legislature is considering several other fire-related measures this session.