Colorado Springs Fire Department educates public ahead of wildfire season
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- The Colorado Springs Fire Department held the first Town Hall in a series called Living with Wildfire Tuesday night.
The one happening Tuesday night is the first of many to come, as an effort to help encourage residents to participate in discussions about wildfires specific to their neighborhood.
One Upper Skyway resident, Jay Temple knows all too well how close to home wildfires can get.
He was one of the first people to spot a plume of smoke just yards away from his house on Electra Drive.
That fire happening almost a year go, burned 26 acres in the open space near Bear Creek Park, forcing the evacuation of 235 homes.
“Do we feel comfortable with it? Well we do the best we can…” Temple said.
Now residents are once again on high alert as CSFD crews prep for what they anticipate to be a “busy” fire season ahead.
Crews who briefed the public Tuesday evening at the Town Hall meeting, placing emphasis for higher, more open terrain - often referred to as Wild-Land Interface Urban (WUI) areas that residents like Temple live in.
“It is the lack of moisture in the air and on the ground… and the lack of snow we got," Sunny Smaldino, from CSFD explained to KRDO. "We are in a very very dry spring.”
The number one biggest tip Smaldino mentioned Tuesday night, maintaining your home's property and creating a barrier of defense space.
Something residents in Upper Skyway, caught onto doing after their close encounter.
“If you look up and down in our neighborhood you will find there are very few low lying branches," Temple said. "Everyone keeps their yards clean.”
Fire crews also stress the importance of respecting curent fire restrictions in city limits.
Currently Colorado Springs is at a Restriction Level Two which means no recreational fires are allowed, the use of small engine equipment without a spark arrestor is banned, and no outdoor smoking in any of the City owned parks and open spaces.
When someone doesn't heed these warnings, thats when trouble ignites.
“We are really encouraging everyone to sign up for peak alerts. Notification is key," Smaldino said. "So when you go to peakalerts.org, you are able to sign up to get your notifications."
The Town Hall meeting comes after a Red Flag Warning was issued Tuesday, April 12 for El Paso County.
Additionally, a Fire Weather Watch remains in effect for Wednesday afternoon and evening for gusty winds and low humidity values.
The next Town Hall happens Thursday, from 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Skyway Elementary School.
