Grass and brush fires caused by homeless campers in Colorado Springs have grown more than threefold since 2014, and the danger shows no sign of abating.
The number of fires that originated from homeless camps jumped from 26 in 2014 to 94 last year, according to the Colorado Springs Fire Department. This year is on pace to be just as busy for firefighters scrambling to protect houses and businesses bordering creeks and vacant land across the city.
Colorado Springs police say the rise highlights a predicament: With shelter space at a premium and temperatures dropping, people experiencing homelessness must either risk accidentally setting a fire trying to stay warm, or the possibility of frostbite and hypothermia.
“The problem we’re seeing right now is the shelters are basically full,” said Sgt. Curt Hasling, who leads the Colorado Springs Police Department’s Homeless Outreach Team. “These people have a right to stay warm.”
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