Group working to help Bastrop get back to normal after 2011 wildfires

It's been a difficult last few years for the people of Bastrop. The area is still dealing with the aftermath of the Labor Day wildfires in 2011 that destroyed thousands of acres and lives. One group is working to get the area back to normal.

TreeFolks's Bastrop County Community Reforestation Program (BCCRP) is helping recovery of the Lost Pines ecosystem by reforesting private property affected by what's called the Bastrop County Complex Fire.

TreeFolks provides comprehensive reforestation services to all property owners affected by the fires, free of charge, by planting drought tolerant loblolly pine tress with volunteers and professional tree planting crews.

The group also provides free trees through giveaway events where all Bastrop area residents may receive both loblolly pines and hardwood tress as well as education about how to plant and care for the trees at their homes.

The BCCRP has planted more than 1.3 million trees on resident property in Bastrop County over the past three years. More than 1,500 volunteers have donated 4,500 hours of their time to help reforestation efforts.'

TreeFolks says professional crews and volunteer will be planting an additional 420,000 pines during the 2015-2016 winter season as it moves closer to its tw million tree goal.

You can learn more about the group, or sign up to volunteer, here.

The Bastrop County Complex Fire was one of the most destructive in our state's history with more than 34,000 acres impacted. Two people died and more than 1,6000 homes were destroyed.

On behalf of the FOX show "Wayward Pines", FOX is donating $1,000 to the TreeFolks BCCRP effort.