DENVER (AP) -- Wildfire experts say the Waldo Canyon Fire near Colorado Springs severely burned the soil across more than 5 square miles, about 20 percent of the total area burned by the blaze.
A spokeswoman for a federal team that assessed the soil damage said Wednesday that severely burned soil has no vegetation on top and no organic material below the surface to a depth of up to about 4 inches.
The team made recommendations for deterring erosion and encouraging regrowth, but the proposals weren't made public.
Officials say the proposals won't be released until they're approved by up to three levels of supervisors, depending on how much the plan is expected to cost.
The Waldo Canyon fire burned nearly 29 square miles, killed two people and destroyed nearly 350 homes.
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