Recent snow showing a ‘false sense of security’ for Colorado’s fire danger

A week ago Colorado was buried in snow, but the first day of spring was a beautiful one, with much of that snow gone.

But with spring, and soon summer, comes more fire danger.

Right now outside the Security Fire Department, their fire danger sign reads low thanks to recent snow that’s come to Colorado.

While the Security Fire Department is keeping busy with regular calls, fire season wise, it’s slow.

“It’s starting out kind of slow, but I anticipate it’s going to be a busy season this year for our guys,” Capt. Bobby Martinez said.

Looking at Pikes Peak the snow pack appears good, but is it really?

Greg Heavener is the Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Pueblo.

He said the snow pack might not prove to be enough.

“It’s kind of like a false sense of security you know, seeing all this snow and thinking like ‘oh we’re perfectly fine,’ Again, depending on how quickly or how slowly we release that water content or snow pack it can make a tremendous difference coming into the fire season,” Heavener said.

The big concern if Colorado stays warm and no more snow comes our way.

“If melt off happens too quickly, then we can be just as bad as last year as far as fires,” Heavener said.