Quiet night for fireworks in Colorado Springs

Given the public’s love of fireworks and rain that fell Tuesday, Colorado Springs authorities wondered if residents would obey a ban on the products.

Apparently, authorities’ faith was justified. Firefighters, authorized to issue citations to violators for the first time, said few patrols were necessary during the Fourth of July because fireworks activity was low.

“I’m surprised and pleased that people are just not setting off fireworks,” said Larry Schwarz, a fire department battalion chief. “They’re illegal in the city and they know it, and they know what kind of damage it can cause because it’s absolutely clear.”

The city issued the ban to prevent fires during the recent hot, dry weather. Violators faced a maximum fine of $500 and 90 days in jail.

On one fire department call, crews responded to a report of a roof fire in the 100 block of south Chelton Road. Schwarz said it ended up being a false alarm from a resident who mistook tree branches in front of a street light as a flickering flame.

Schwarz said the ban convinced people of the need to prevent a serious fire, after the Waldo Canyon wildfire destroyed nearly 350 homes on the city’s northwest side last week and is close to full containment.