Dec. 30--Smoke plumes billowing in the sky could be seen from pretty much everywhere in Pueblo on Saturday as a wildland fire burned between Lake Minnequa and Pueblo Boulevard. The fire began toward the east of Lake Minnequa just before 2 p.m. It extended to the west and charred 70 acres of shrubs and grass before firefighters were able to contain it at about 5 p.m., according to Gary Micheli, fire inspector with the Pueblo Fire Department.
No structures were threatened or lost and no injuries were reported.
"It is a very dry area but the lack of wind really helped it not spread any further," Micheli said.
Residents in the area received reverse 911 calls telling them to stay inside due to the heavy smoke, but no evacuations were ordered.
People nearby flocked out of their homes and were stopping in their vehicles on the highway and on residential roads to get a view of the fire.
"I was afraid at first but my mom and dad said they wouldn't let the fire get to any structures," Tammy Bowen, who lives near the fire on Acero Avenue, said. "I've lived here for eight years and have never seen a fire like this but I think we will be OK. They are doing their job and keeping it away from the structures and pushing it toward the lake."
Micheli said 25 firefighters from the Pueblo Fire Department worked the blaze.
The fire department received additional help from about 10 firefighters from the West Park Fire Protection District and the Pueblo Rural Fire District, according to Micheli.
The Pueblo County Sheriff's Office also helped by sending patrol cars to block a few roads on the South Side while firefighters worked on the fire.
Micheli said the cause of the fire is undetermined and is under investigation.
Gary Quintana, who lives on Mirror Street just south of the fire and was one of the first to call authorities, said he saw something suspicious while he and his wife and two daughters were out walking the trails along Lake Minnequa.
''We saw these three kids and they just looked like they were up to no good and all of a sudden my daughter is tapping me and saying, 'daddy there is a fire,' '' he said. "It just seemed strange and I'd bet they had something to do with this."
Quintana said the fire started out modestly on the eastern side of the lake but quickly grew before firefighters were able to arrive. Numerous other witnesses at the scene also said they saw three kids messing around near the lake just before the fire started.
"It's probably a likely scenario," Micheli said. "In the next couple of days we will get a better look at it."
Copyright 2012 - The Pueblo Chieftain, Colo.
