Pueblo residents grapple with smoke and ash while their health and daily routines are affected
PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) -- Pueblo residents are experiencing prolonged smoke plumes and ash fall from the Aspen Acres fire, impacting their health and daily routines. The persistent smoke is visible from the freeway and noticeable throughout the city, leading to widespread concerns among the community.
The air in Pueblo carries the smell and taste of fire, with ash sometimes falling from the sky like snow. This environmental reality is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.
Pueblo resident Loretta Velasquez described the ongoing conditions as “really hard.” Velasquez said she is experiencing allergy and sinus issues due to the smoke.
Jordan Ortiz, another Pueblo resident, noted a change in air quality. “I feel like the oxygen's a little bit different. Normally when I train outside, it's easier to breathe and it's just kind of easier to get through my workout. But that with the heat is a little bit harder than normal,” Ortiz said.
Teri Torres, also a Pueblo resident, required asthma treatments due to the smoky conditions. “It's been very difficult because I've had to take a couple of asthma treatments. Yesterday, there was just a big orange cloud, a big smoke plume over our house and it was dropping ash and it was very smoky and orange. Everything was orange. So I've been hiding in my house,” Torres said.
Despite the difficult circumstances, residents have observed a strong sense of generosity and community spirit. Velasquez, fighting back tears, expressed that the situation has highlighted the kindness within Pueblo.
“It's sad that this is making everybody realize how good everybody here is. And I don't want to cry, but it is really sad,” Velasquez said. “We've lived Pueblo all our life. So we need to stay and help everybody.”
Torres says this wildfire and the community's response prove Pueblo's inherent spirit. “That's who we are. That's what we've always been,” Torres said. “I think we've kind of gotten a little bit of a bad rap, you know, in the past few years that Pueblo is a great place to live.”
Those who wish to offer assistance can contact the Red Cross or United Way of Southern Colorado.
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