Long-range plan in place for fire mitigation at Lake Minnequa in Pueblo
PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) -- Nearly three weeks after the latest fire at Lake Minnequa on the city's west side, authorities are explaining a long-range plan for mitigating -- or reducing -- excess vegetation that has fueled several fires around the lake in recent years.
Tim Trujillo, a spokesman with the Pueblo Fire Department, said Tuesday that the city hopes to hire SWIFT -- the State Wildland Inmate Fire Team -- a group that is normally called in to fight wildfires in forests.
The SWIFT would provide additional mitigation of large areas of thick, tall plants that grow in marshy areas around the 160-acre lake.
"We hope to finalize an agreement next month," he said.
Parks and Recreation workers currently mow weeds along trails and fire breaks through the property, as well as along areas bordering homes and other private property.
However, the vegetation grows quickly -- and marshy areas limit access to workers and firefighters.
Neighbors concerned about the fire risk have blamed homeless activity, but Trujillo said that the area is easily accessible to people and there could be a number of causes for fires there.
"We have kids through here, people smoking," he explained. "It could be anything."
Several lake visitors said that they think the plan is a good idea but would like to see an end to homeless camps in the area that are believed to have started some fires.
"They migrate in here, and sooner or later, a fire starts," said Terry Baughn. "It seems like (authorities) had it all taken care of a few years back, and then they just let it grow."
Chad Anthony has a wait-and-see attitude.
"It's a lot better than nothing," he said. "I don't know the effectiveness of that. If (authorities) had a patrol, even just once a night, to educate (homeless campers) that they can't (start fires) here, that's really what we need."
Lake Minnequa was once a popular place for boating, fishing and swimming; it even had an amusement park that operated from 1902 until 1940.
The city purchased the lake in 2009 and is gradually converting the area into a public park and recreational destination.
Trujillo said that an earlier idea to dredge the lake -- possibly to reduce marshy areas -- would cost around $4 million and is considered unfeasible.
