Multiple departments extinguish fire at Cheyenne Mountain State Park
Firefighters were working Thursday to contain a fire that’s burning in Cheyenne Mountain State Park.
Smoke could be seen rising from the northwest area of the park. By about 4:25 p.m., crews had stopped the growth of the fire.
“We decided we’d not mess around, we lifted our jacks and started getting things ready and we had about a 2-minute plan to get out just in case,” Camper John Kelleher said.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife says the fire burned less than an acre and wasn’t a threat to trails or campgrounds. A park manager saw smoke and called the Colorado Springs Fire Department, which responded quickly to extinguish the flames.
According to the Colorado Springs Fire Department, the fire only burned roughly a half acre.
Crews credit recent moisture and the quick arrival of four fire departments to stopping the blaze quickly.
“Quick effort and teamwork really makes a difference when you’re talking about what is the potential down here,” Capt. Brian Vaughan with CSFD said.
On another day could this have been the spark of the next big fire? Vaughan said it’s possible.
“Anytime you see the types of fuels we have here, it could be,” Vaughan said.
Vaughan also said the area could be difficult for firefighters to contain the blaze.
“It could be a mile back there. It could take us a while to get there and then do we have enough hose to even put on it. It might be a different type of operation where we have to do an air assault and that takes time to put those resources in place,” Vaughan said.
Camper Ronn Belcher was settling into the park for the weekend. He saw the smoke on the way up and is worried about what could have happened.
“Just really concerned at this point because it is such a beautiful area and it is really dry up here and it will sweep really quickly,” Belcher said.
CSFD said it is a reminder that even though recent moisture has come to the area, to be careful as to how heat sources are being used outside.
“We have to be cognizant again of what could happen when we have heat sources outside,” Vaughan said.
CSFD is investigating the cause of the fire.
