Homeless fires in Colorado Springs more than quadruple

Fire investigators report a staggering spike in homeless-related fires in Colorado Springs within the past three years.

“It’s dangerous for everyone,” said Springs Fire Cpt. Brian Vaughn. “It’s a tough situation.”

According to data released from the Colorado Springs Fire Department, there were 51 homeless-related fires in 2015. That number jumped to 151 homeless-related fires in 2016. And another spike with 220 homeless-related fires in 2017.

“So far this year, we’re seeing close to one a day,” Vaughn said.

The most recent was Tuesday morning, investigators arrived at the scene of a warehouse fire along the 200 block of W. Vermijo Ave.

“We believe it was started from homeless people who were outside the garage door,” said Vaughn.

Initial reports suggest squatters were burning cardboard outside the warehouse that spread to the garage door and filled up the building with smoke.

No one was hurt and none of the auto parts in the warehouse, leased by Phil Long Ford, were damaged.

Community response

“This is getting ludicrous, absolutely ridiculous,” said H. T. Torchalla. “The homeless population is only getting worse, worse, and worse.”

Torchalla owns the property next door to the warehouse that burned.

Business owners nearby are worried this will happen again.

“There are so many around here, it’s scary, all along this street,” said Hun Kim.

As of January 11, there were eleven homeless-related fires in Colorado Springs since the start of 2018.