Governor Polis visits Colorado Springs as extreme fire danger fears realized Friday
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- As area firefighters readied themselves for a predicted day of extreme wildfire fire danger, they also prepared for a visit from Colorado Gov. Jared Polis.
Fire officials with the city and El Paso County confirmed that Polis was in the area Friday on a previously-planned trip to discuss wildfire matters.
Polis arrived just as the five-acre Silver Charm Way fire burned through a ravine adjacent to a new and growing subdivision in the city's Northgate area.
Fortunately, firefighters contained the flames to a creek bed and no homes were damaged.
"In these conditions, a grass fire can spread at a speed of 20 mph," said Bob Ayotte, the county's wildland fire supervisor. "That's faster than most people can run. You don't want to get in the way of that."
Local fire fighters said that they had prepared for the event of grass, brush or forest fires that would worsen in the dry conditions and strong wind gusts expected in the afternoon.
The preparations included allocating additional staff and resources to some stations.
"I was preparing lunch, I looked out the back window and saw the plume of smoke coming down her," said Katy Hadduck, a nearby homeowner. "We knew it was a risky day, just because of the dryness and the wind today, so I knew it was a grass fire. We immediately tried to call 9-1-1."
El Paso County firefighters said that their biggest concern wasn't trying to extinguish a wildfire, but to quickly and safely evacuate people out of harm's way if necessary.
And it certainly became necessary around noon Friday, as authorities scrambled to close streets, direct traffic and stay ahead of the fire while issuing mandatory or voluntary evacuation orders.
To that end, the county strongly advises people to remain alert and be aware of fire-related developments, to have an evacuation plan and to have an emergency kit packed and ready.
"You don't want to wait until the last minute to do those things," said Lonnie Inzer, deputy director of the Pikes Peak Office of Emergency Management. "In an evacuation, every second counts."
City fire officials said that they were still finalizing preparedness plans Friday morning, with plans subject to change based on the level of fire activity.
Black Forest Fire & Rescue, in northern El Paso County, posted on Twitter that it had two crews on patrol during the day as a precaution; that community is particularly sensitive to wildfire danger after a fire there in 2013 destroyed more than 500 homes.
The city and county fire departments said that they normally do not send crews on patrol, preferring to respond from central locations.
