Although southeastern Colorado is not experiencing a drought right now and chances for significant wildland fire are slim in and around Pueblo, outdoor enthusiasts who plan to travel out of the area can use a mobile app to track wildfires.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) offers the Colorado Trail Explorer (COTREX) mobile app to track active fire alerts, including wildfires and prescribed burns. The free and user-friendly app is also helpful for those looking for detailed trail information.
What is Pueblo County’s current wildfire risk?
National Weather Service Meteorologist Mark Wankowski told the Chieftain there is no significant wildland fire potential listed for July, except in extreme northwestern Colorado. August also looks promising if Colorado’s monsoons bring in moisture, he said.
“Right now, a portion of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains have moderate drought, but southeastern Colorado is not in a drought. We are hoping once the monsoon rains are active, we will have a better potential for rain,” Wankowski said.
“Based on predictions by the end of the week and into next week, we will have a monsoon plume and good chances for rain every day.”
Portions of the Western Slope of Colorado and the southwest mountains are in extreme drought, so Puebloans who may be venturing to other parts of the state for hiking, biking, camping and recreating would benefit from downloading the COTREX app to keep tabs on wildfires.
The free COTREX app helps outdoor enthusiasts track wildfires in Colorado and explore trails.
What to know about the COTREX app
A total of 236 land managers have contributed data on 45,076 miles of trail across the state for the app. COTREX is unique in that it works directly and exclusively with land managers, parks and open spaces to ensure that the information on the platform comes from a reliable, trusted source, according to a CPW press release.
The partners are posting real-time advisories, including seasonal wildlife closures, safety hazards and other essential trail alerts to the app. Users can plan routes, view allowed use types (such as hiking, biking, off-highway vehicles and snow sports), download offline maps, and see trip recommendations from participating partners around the state.
The COTREX app includes daily wildfire and prescribed burn alerts from trusted sources like Inciweb and the National Interagency Fire Center. Alerts will automatically appear on the website and app, providing descriptions, boundaries and links to additional resources when available.
“COTREX is a powerful tool for planning your next trip,” said Joe O’Brien, state trails program coordinator. “We’re committed to increasing the amount of official information we can provide to help the public recreate safely and responsibly around the state.”
The app is designed to help outdoor recreationists make informed decisions about exploring an area. While all information in COTREX comes directly from the best available public sources, it can still vary in accuracy and timeliness.
Flight crews work to control the Oak Ridge Fire near Beulah on Tuesday, June 25, 2024.
Additional wildfire safety tips from CPW
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Use designated campfire areas when allowed and available.
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Never leave a fire unattended.
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Don’t burn trash, leftover food, or garbage in campfire areas.
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Keep the fire small. Small fires consume fewer resources and leave less impact.
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Burn the wood completely to ash. Stop feeding the fire and give yourself an hour or more for the fire to completely burn out.
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When you are through, saturate the ash with water and ensure it’s cool to the touch.
For more information on Colorado state parks and outdoor recreation, visit cpw.state.co.us.
More: What to know about hiking safety after six rescued from Pueblo County’s Greenhorn Mountain
Chieftain reporter Tracy Harmon covers business news. She can be reached by email at tharmon@chieftain.com or via X at x.com/tracywumps. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Worried about Colorado wildfires? This app can help you track them
