With the nature of wildfires often requiring fire crews to work closely together, preventing the spread of the coronavirus among firefighters may seem a difficult task. The frequency of fires early in the 2020 season further raises concern: Bent County has had two fires this week, and three since early April; another fire is currently
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BENT COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — A wildfire that started Thursday evening and prompted evacuations at nearby state park is now under control, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The fire east of John Martin Reservoir State Park had burned over 500 acres and was at 50% containment by 10 p.m. Thursday. In an update Friday
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MANITOU SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Firefighters in Manitou Springs are preparing for potential wildfires as they also gather resources to help fight COVID-19. Gov. Jared Polis has signed a proclamation declaring May as Wildfire Awareness Month, an annual observance to encourage all citizens to better prepare their homes and communities for wildfires. Although firefighters anticipate
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Almost overshadowed by the worldwide coronavirus pandemic is the start of this year’s peak wildfire season in Colorado. Currently burning is the 83-acre #560 fire near Cheesman Reservoir in Jefferson County, believed to be the state’s first significant wildfire of 2020. The cause of that fire is unknown but was 100% contained as of Tuesday
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JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — You might see some smoke Sunday from a wildfire, dubbed the ‘560 Fire’, that’s burning west of Deckers on the old Hayman Fire burn scar. The blaze was reported around 12:30 p.m. Saturday off of Forest Road 560, about 3 miles northwest of Cheesman Lake. As of an update on
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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — As of Friday, a burn restriction has been implemented in Colorado Springs as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Colorado Springs Fire Department issued a notice saying the restrictions follow Gov. Jared Polis’ recommendations as local resources are strained by fighting coronavirus. Included in the restrictions are: no outdoor
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CAÑON CITY, Colo. (KRDO) — The Bureau of Land Management announced Tuesday that they would be implementing additional fire restrictions for BLM land amid the start of wildfire season. The restrictions go into effect April 14. “The restrictions are being put in place to align with orders and restrictions that have been put in place by
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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Colorado could see a warmer and dryer than average spring, which is bad news for fire danger this summer. The Climate Prediction Center produces a three-month precipitation/temperature outlook for the United States, and the most recent report says Coloradans could be seeing warm and dry weather at least through June.
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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Crews were called to a grass fire just south of the Academy Boulevard and Pikes Peak Avenue intersection at around 5 p.m. Wednesday. In an update at 5:40 p.m., police said the fire had been put out and two lanes of southbound Academy in the area reopened. Firefighters said the
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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — A plume of smoke brought Colorado Springs firefighters to a field near Delta Drive and Hancock Expressway Thursday afternoon, but it wasn’t a grass fire. Firefighters found a white van consumed by flames, and they quickly got to work to extinguish them. The field is near the 2700 block of
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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — The Colorado Springs Fire Department was called to a grass fire that started Wednesday around noon on the east side of town. CSFD says the fire is in the area of Platte Ave. and Space Center Drive and was about 100 square feet as of 1:15 p.m. Smoke could be
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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – The Air Force Academy will hold a controlled burn Friday afternoon. According to AFA, smoke will be visible from Interstate 25 and the lookout. Firefighters will be on-site ensuring safety.
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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Firefighters were able to quickly get a grass fire under control and prevented it from spreading to a large area in southeast Colorado Springs Thursday afternoon. The grass fire was in a field in the area of Hancock Expressway and Academy Boulevard. The flames were extinguished a little after 2
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(KRDO) — Several dozen agencies and organizations have teamed up to form the nation’s first-of-its-kind effort to reach a consensus on how to best prevent and prepare for major wildfires in Colorado. The new group is called the Rocky Mountain Restoration Initiative, which includes Colorado Springs Utilities, other utilities, state agencies, federal land managers and
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Firefighters were called to a house fire in Green Mountain Falls which sent a plume of smoke that could be seen from Woodland Park. Multiple fire engines and first responders were called to the area near Foster Ave. and Howard Street. The fire started shortly before noon. KRDO viewer Jocelyn Farmer sent us a picture
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A Global Supertanker spokesman tells us that the 747 flew five missions Saturday over the Kincade Fire in Northern California. The Supertanker is currently under contract with Cal Fire and flying out of McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento. Dan Reese with the Global Supertanker says that the aircraft's missions are variable, and it could be deployed to any
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Two wildland crews and two wildland trucks from the Security Fire Department were deployed to help with a California wildfire early Sunday morning. According to a source at the Security Fire Department, the crews will help battle the Kincade fire in northern California. The Kincade Fire had scorched more than 29,955 acres by late Saturday and
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A Red Flag Warning is back in effect for the area near Salida where the Decker Fire is burning Wednesday. The Rocky Mountain Incident Management sent out an update Wednesday morning saying that humidity will drop to the single digits and winds will gust up to 30 mph, which could lead to additional fire growth.
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A national fire prevention group has praised the Palmer Lake neighborhood of Red Rock Ranch for its success in persuading homeowners to mitigate, or create defensible space, around their homes for wildfire protection. The National Fire Protection Association said 40% of the neighborhood’s 200 homes have been properly mitigated as part of its Firewise program.
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Homeowners in the Skyway neighborhood in southwest Colorado Springs are concerned about the potential threat posed by several coyotes there. According to some residents, as many as four coyotes have been seen recently and two small dogs have been attacked. One attack occurred when the coyote climbed a fence into a yard. Scott Leonard’s small
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