Pueblo City Council considers ban on charcoal grills at parks

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) -- The risk of wildfire is high all over Colorado right now.

Monday night, the Pueblo City Council is working to take that into account with a potential new law that would ban charcoal grills and open fires in city parks. 

The ordinance would eliminate a decades-old allowance for charcoal grilling, replacing it with tighter restrictions that only allow propane grills under certain conditions. 

You would still be allowed to grill, but only with propane grills that have a tank of less than 20 pounds.

"A lot of people will be down there, and they want to enjoy themselves. They'll bring their barbecue grills. And, you know, this year, you know, they're not going to be allowed to bring anything but propane," says Mike Sexton, Pueblo's park and recreation assistant director.

Pueblo Parks and Recreation says the history of fires caused by neglect, combined with the current dry conditions, is something that can't be ignored.

"We do see a lot of fires down there in the summer and along the trails. So what this is going to do is help protect, you know, not only the parks but our neighborhoods from you know, wildfires," says Sexton.

The department says most of the installed grills have already been removed.

There are a couple still at Lake Minnequa Park, but there are plans in place to remove them as well.

Tonight's meeting will be the first reading of the ordinance, but there are still several steps to go through before a final decision is made.

If you would like to voice any concerns, there will be a public hearing on April 27.

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