LAKEWOOD, Colo — West Metro Fire Rescue has postponed a prescribed burn at Bear Creek Lake Park due to unseasonably hot, dry conditions.
The 118-acre burn was set to begin this week and last for several days but has now been pushed back indefinitely.
“It feels like our summer’s going to continue forever and then it’ll be winter, and it really does feel like that outside right now, the heat’s continuing,” said District 3 Chief Mike Parker.
Parker says the burn was intended to eliminate non-native plant species and to thin out tall grasses in fire-prone areas, but they’ll have to wait at least a few more weeks due to current weather conditions.
“We might have to wait for the snow to fall,” said Parker.
Across the road, people like Juan Prada spent Saturday swimming in Bear Creek Lake Park, where record-setting temperatures climbed into the upper 80s.
“I like summer, so you have to enjoy it until the end,” said Prada.
Prada agreed with the decision to cancel the burn, and said people need to be careful right now.
“It’s supposed to be pretty cold already,” he said. “But it’s a hot day.”
Parker says it’s important to remember some of Colorado’s most destructive fires have started this time of year.
He hopes the public takes Saturday’s Red Flag Warning seriously and keeps high fire danger in mind over the next few weeks.
“That’s right, just the tiniest park can set off a single blade of grass, and that can lead to something bigger maybe, so we all really need to watch out,” said Parker.