Illegal fireworks spark July 4th fears
Continued high fire danger has made it illegal in Colorado to set off fireworks without a permit, but fears remain that people will disregard the risks in their attempts to celebrate.
Patrols of both firefighters and citizens are ready to help enforce the ban.
Colorado Springs firefighters will be patrolling the city looking for people setting off fireworks. Unlike in years past, they’ll have authority to write court summons.
On Tuesday night, the group Friends of Cheyenne Canyon met to organize their citizen patrols. Volunteers will be watching for all fire hazards around the Canon, including the trails, picnic areas, Helen Hunt Falls and Starsmore Discovery Center. Those patrols will go on throughout the summer with a special emphasis on July 4.
“We’re going to be out there to tell people to be respectful and caring of our natural resources,” said Ron Leasure, president of Friends of Cheyenne Canyon. “Those firemen and everybody worked their tails off (for the Waldo Canyon fire). We don’t want the same thing to happen here.”
Kurt Schroeder, the operations and development manager of Colorado Springs city parks, said it’s a big help to have people lending their eyes and ears.
“It’s fabulous,” said Schroeder. “The Friends of Cheyenne Canon are doing that, the Guardians of Palmer Park are doing that. The more eyes we can have at city parks the better it will be.”
Many remain hopeful that enforcement and penalties won’t be what prevents people from violating the fire ban. Rather, they hope residents will recognize the risks and do the right thing.
“It’s just a powder keg (here),” said Fire Chief Brown. “It’s just, people (should) be mindful as a community, work together, and don’t do it.”
Along with hundreds of dollars in fines for violating the fireworks ban, law breakers could also face arson charges if they start a fire.
While most of the commercial fireworks displays have been canceled in southern Colorado, shows will go on as usual in Pueblo, both at the Riverwalk and in the county off Palmer Lake Drive.
