Veterans find healing by restoring land devastated by the Alexander Mountain Fire

DRAKE, Colo. — A Colorado nonprofit gathered a team of veterans Saturday morning to clean up an area devastated by the Alexander Mountain Fire.

Thirty-two veterans shot down burned trees and planted mushrooms on nearly 1,000 acres of land in Drake.

The area can be seen from the historic Sylvan Dale Ranch, where the fire burned approximately 950 acres and several buildings. Silas Binkley, director of programs and operations for the Heart-J Center, manages the scorched earth.

The family that owns Sylvan Dale Ranch plans to move nearly 3,000 acres of land to the Heart-J Center. The first transfer of about 1,000 acres took place last year, and the remaining 2,000 will be transferred in the future.

“The vision is that schools, students and scientists from all over Colorado will come here and use the Heart-J Center site as a research center,” Binkley said.

The nonprofit organization has partnered with the Combat Recovery Foundation, an organization focused on effective suicide prevention among veterans. The foundation brought 24 volunteers to the ranch to teach them how to use chainsaws and cut down trees.

“The land heals, but it also heals them,” Binkley said.

Noah George is one of the veterans who helped with the cleanup project. George, a Marine Corps veteran, served multiple times overseas. He is currently a student at Front Range Community College and is working toward a degree in forestry.

George said his years in the army were the best of his life. After returning home, he missed the camaraderie of military life.

“He might feel a little lonely,” George said. “Being around other veterans helps motivate me and keeps me on track.”

George argued that an important form of therapy involves mitigating the effects of a fire with other veterans.

“Veterans can be terrible at seeking help, but they are the first to volunteer to help,” said Alana Bethune, manager at the Combat Recovery Foundation.

As an Army veteran, Bethune is all too aware of the mental health issues veterans experience. She argued that staying busy can often be the best way to combat past trauma.

The Drake Fire Mitigation Project provides work, companionship and treatment that veterans may desperately need.

“Healing happens in nature,” Bethune said. “We engaged them in a new purpose.”

Bethune said the cleanup process will take several months.

The Combat Recovery Foundation organized a GoFundMe collection for the ranch, the proceeds of which were used to rebuild the Heart-J Center area at Sylvan Dale Ranch.