Pueblo gets 'brief reprieve' from fire bans for Memorial Day weekend
Puebloans can expect a short respite from fire bans thanks to last weekend's snow and the rain that followed it this week, meaning camp fires, backyard barbecues and recreational fires are allowed this Memorial Day weekend.
Stage 1 fire restrictions were lifted Wednesday in the city and Pueblo County, allowing grilling, campfires in developed campgrounds or recreational fires, as long as red flag warnings have not been issued. A red flag warning means warm temperatures, very low humidity, and strong winds are expected to combine to produce an increased risk of fire danger, according to the National Weather Service.
“The recent moisture and cooler temperatures the past few days has dampened the fire danger in the area and as a result, the fire restrictions for Pueblo County are being lifted,” said Pueblo County Sheriff Kirk Taylor.
Those burning recreational fires at home will still have to follow all the safety protocols, said Capt. Woody Percival of the Pueblo Fire Department.
"This is probably just a brief reprieve from fire bans and we may be going back on them again if we don't get continued humidity or moisture," Percival said. "We want everyone to continue to be very vigilant and safe so we don't have any catastrophes."
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Cañon City has also lifted its fire ban within city limits and city parks, which includes the Royal Gorge, Temple Canyon and Red Canyon Park campgrounds and picnic areas.
"Our regulations for open burning are still in effect, which requires a burn permit, permission to burn prior to burning and limits the materials to be burned and manner in which they are burned," said Lt. Shane Roberts of the Cañon City Fire Protection District.
The Royal Gorge field office for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management also lifted its fire bans in southeastern Colorado.
Those planning to camp in U.S. Forest Service Pike-San Isabel National Forests or Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands areas were greeted with the news Friday that officials also lifted a fire ban.
"We just encourage people to be responsible with fire, stay in touch with the website to know whether conditions change and to have an alternate heating source for cooking just in case," said Crystal Young, public affairs specialist for the U.S. Forest Service intermountain region.
If fires should become a concern in the area, a new Colorado Springs airtanker base was christened this week at the Colorado Springs Airport, Young said. It will accommodate airtankers of various sizes and have the capacity to deliver up to 85,600 gallons of flame retardant per hour within a 300-mile radius.
The base is already operational and has supported recent fire suppression efforts.
Pueblo Memorial Airport also has an airtanker base, but it is not active. However, the U.S. Forest Service "did leave behind all the infrastructure and it's a good facility, so we are looking for a tenant and hope it gets some use somewhere down the line," said Greg Pedroza, director of aviation for the airport.
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Chieftain reporter Tracy Harmon covers business news. She can be reached by email at tharmon@chieftain.com or via Twitter at twitter.com/tracywumps.
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Memorial Day weekend fires and grilling OK in Pueblo County
