COLORADO SPRINGS — A snow day for some and another work day for others: first responders in Colorado Springs are taking extra precautions while responding to calls on Thursday.
“We don't get those days off when the weather turns bad," said Captain JJ Halsey with the Colorado Springs Fire Department.
He said response times may be slower with the snowy weather as crews take extra care while driving.
“We can't get there as fast as we normally do. We have to take our time," said Capt. Halsey. "We've got a century of experience here in this kind of climate so we prepare for that, and we're ready for those kinds of extremes."
Capt. Halsey said crews have been putting tire chains on fire apparatuses, focusing on rigs on the north and west sides of the city that see more snow and tricky terrain. Personnel are also making sure they have plenty of winter gear while double-checking equipment and fuel levels before heading out the door.
Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vasquez said officers are following the same advice they give out to the community for cold days.
“Slow down, take your time, give yourself more time to get to the place that you want to get to," said Chief Vasquez.
As fire danger decreases during a wet and snowy day, Capt. Halsey said crews still have to keep infrastructure in mind during the cold.
"We have to still, you know, access hydrants. We have to still flow water and in these extreme cold conditions, you know, hose lines freeze. Pumps can freeze," said Capt. Halsey.
Resources:
- Get your latest First Alert 5 Weather Forecast
- Find the current school closing and delay list
- Keep track of flight delays at Denver International Airport or the Colorado Springs Airport
- Watch KOAA News5 LIVE newscasts and updated content throughout the day in your browser, the News5 App, or your favorite streaming device.
- Download the free News5 App for your iOS or Android device to get the latest headlines and news across Colorado.
- Download the free First Alert 5 Weather App for your iOS or Android device to get the latest headlines and news across Colorado.
- You can find us on social media with KOAA on Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
___
Unaffiliated Voters Cast 46% of All Ballots in El Paso County
As of Wednesday night, voter turnout among active voters in El Paso County is at 78% and is expected to climb as election workers continue to process votes.
____
Watch KOAA News5 on your time, anytime with our free streaming app available for your Roku, FireTV, AppleTV and Android TV. Just search KOAA News5, download and start watching.
