COLORADO SPRINGS — The transition from summer to fall brings warnings about escalating wildfire risk.
Hot days and cool nights cause fire fuel to dry out and increase fire danger.
This time of year there can also be rain, even snow, only it can warm back up quickly bringing back fire danger.
“Sometimes we get a moisture pop from precipitation, whether that's snow or rain, things like that. However, we live in a dry, arid climate, and a lot of our precipitation actually dries out, and our fuels dry out very quickly,” said Colorado Springs Fire Department, Fuels Program Administrator, Cory Ashby.
The push and pull of warm to cool can also increase wind.
That can cause a fire to rapidly change from small to out of control.
“[Grasses] the light fuels we speak about. They dry out quickly, and any day after a rain or snow, they are ready to burn again,” said Colorado Springs Fire Department, Deputy Chief, Steve Wilch.
The change from summer to fall is part of enjoying Colorado.
It is also a reason to respect the risk it brings when it comes to fire danger.
WATCH: A quick check-in on how drought looks across the state.
Fort Carson Soldier Raises $50K for Cancer Treatment - Gives It All Away to Help Others
Sergeant First Class David Hong battling stage 4 colon cancer raised over $50,000 in three days for experimental treatment, but when Tricare approved coverage, he donated every penny to help other service members and veterans fighting cancer. The Fort Carson religious specialist underwent the innovative histotripsy treatment earlier this month and remains hopeful about the results. His selfless decision shows how one soldier's battle became a mission to help others in their fight against cancer.
