Recently, southern Colorado residents have reported seeing smoke in the mountains, especially over the Rampart Range, northwest of Colorado Springs.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, this is from pile burns in an effort to reduce potential fire fuel. It comes as the area has seen moisture recently, with snowfall making the ground damp. While this might not seem like the time to worry about wildfires to some, experts say it’s actually the perfect time to prepare for wildfires. Fire experts and the 11 Breaking Weather team say fire season is year-round, and for Manitou Springs, which rests within a wildland urban interface, fire danger is always front of mind.
Jeremy Van Der Merwede with the Manitou Springs Fire Department said they’ve been working on projects to mitigate the risk of fires, even with conditions being cold and damp.