CRIPPLE CREEK, Colo. (AP) -- Two years after the worst wildfire in state history destroyed 132 homes, Teller County is reporting its biggest building boom in four years.
The nearly 138,000-acre Hayman fire prompted hundreds of residents to evacuate in 2002 and cost an estimated $238 million in lost timber, firefighting costs and rehabilitation of the charred land.
Teller County lost 85 homes while the government lost $74,000 in property tax revenue in 2002 and $127,000 in 2003.
County Assessor Al Jordan said the situation is improving.
``We've had some sales on the land up there, and they haven't lost value,'' he said, ``and people are rebuilding some nice homes up there.''
Today the county is on pace to at least match the 2000 building season, the county's best for new homes, said Paul Clarkson, director of the county's community development services division.
Residents also seem to be heeding the threat of fires.
A meeting last month on how to protect homes from wildfire drew more than 200 people. County commissioners set up a community wildfire protection commission to develop a plan to reduce the threat.
An interagency team of state and federal land managers is warning that the Front Range could see above-average fire activity this season, but that hasn't stopped some residents from moving back to burned areas.
John and Diane Benge lost their home north of Woodland Park to the Hayman fire but moved into a house in September that they rebuilt with insurance money. The new home has a metal roof, stucco walls and is away from trees.
``It's a beautiful home,'' John Benge said. ``Right around the house, the trees have come back pretty green, but you go anywhere else and they're black sticks.''
The Forest Service has worked to rehabilitate land burned by the fire.
Crews built diversions on hillsides to prevent rapid water runoff, erosion and floods. Helicopters, planes and ground crews were used to help spread grass seed and mulch.
Crews planted 23,000 seedlings this year on 80 acres. Next year, they'll plant 250,000 trees on 1,000 acres.
``We envision this could be a 10-year effort,'' said Jim Behm, reforestation specialist with the Forest Service's Hayman Restoration Team.
The blaze was started by former Forest Service worker Terry Barton, whose job was to ticket fire violators. She said she was burning a letter in a campfire ring, despite a fire ban, and the fire grew out of control.
Barton, 40, is serving a six-year prison term after having pleaded guilty in federal court to starting the fire. She faces a 12-year sentence on state charges.
An appeals court has told a judge to order restitution in the federal case. Prosecutors are seeking $14.7 million.
Barton was sentenced to pay $27.5 million of restitution in the state case.
