Manitou Springs Fire Department

10/22/2026

Update on traffic limitations for Saturday Oct 24th. The Coffin Races are happening, and the downtown core will pedestrian traffic only. Please plan accordingly.

10/22/2026

🎃Emma Crawford Coffin Races – Safety Reminders!🎃

We’re looking forward to a fun and exciting day at the Emma Crawford Coffin Races in Manitou Springs this Saturday Oct 24th! With large crowds expected, we want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable experience. Please take a few moments to review these important safety reminders before heading out!

- Know How to Get Help Cell phone service may be limited or unreliable due to the large crowds. Multiple medical teams will be moving throughout the event on foot, and law enforcement officers will also be patrolling on foot. Additional personnel will be stationed at the station, staged near the Ruxton Avenue/Manitou Avenue roundabout, and mobile throughout the event on foot, Polaris vehicles, and e-bikes.

- If you experience an emergency, call 911 or flag down any police officer or EMT for assistance.

- Calling 911? Help Us Find You! If you need to call 911, tell the dispatcher you are at the Emma Crawford Coffin Races and provide your most accurate location possible. Look for nearby street signs, businesses, landmarks, or intersections. The more specific you can be, the easier it will be to get the closest available emergency team to you.

- Keep an Eye on Your Kids Before heading into the crowds, parents and guardians are encouraged to take a current photo of their children. Make sure the photo clearly shows what they look like and what they are wearing that day. If you become separated, having an up-to-date photo can help emergency personnel reunite you more quickly.

- Dress for the Weather Colorado weather can be unpredictable this time of year! Check the forecast before you leave, dress in layers, and be prepared for changing temperatures and conditions.

- Have Fun and Stay Safe! We want everyone to enjoy this unique Manitou Springs tradition. Stay aware of your surroundings, look out for one another, and don't hesitate to ask an officer or medical team for help if you need it.

Have a great time at the races, and stay safe, everyone! 🧡

10/08/2026

Did you know...

Wildfire is a natural part of Colorado’s forests and drier landscapes. For thousands of years, many of our ecosystems experienced periodic, lower-intensity fires that cleared out accumulated vegetation and dead fuels.

Today, decades of fire suppression and urban development have disrupted that natural cycle. In many areas, fuels have accumulated beyond what would naturally occur, creating conditions for larger, hotter and more destructive wildfires.

That’s why mitigation matters.

Fuels reduction, prescribed fire, forest management, and defensible space can help restore some of the benefits that naturally occurring fires once provided, reducing the amount of fuel available to a wildfire and giving firefighters a better chance to protect homes, infrastructure and communities.

Fire is part of our landscape. Our job is to live with it wisely.

Learn more about wildfire mitigation and what you can do to reduce risk around your property here: https://bit.ly/WMG

View current fire danger, conditions, and about fire danger terminology here: https://bit.ly/fire_danger

10/02/2026

Check out this post from our friends at El Paso County Search and Rescue!

Winter is coming—and at higher altitudes, it’s already here! With that in mind, it’s especially important to be aware of changing weather conditions before heading outdoors. Dress in layers, expect snow and ice (especially at higher elevations), prepare your vehicle, check the forecast, plan for shorter daylight hours, and know when it’s time to turn around.

Stay safe and be prepared this season! And thank your local Search and Rescue organization for braving the elements to help people out!!

10/01/2026

A reminder that our Chipper Day will be this Saturday, October 3rd, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Manitou Springs Public Works.

Chipper Day will be this Saturday, October 3rd, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Manitou Springs Public Works.

Residents can bring and drop off eligible tree limbs and branches to be chipped.

Acceptable Materials:
Wood limbs and branches up to 4 inches in diameter

Please do NOT bring:
-Construction or building materials
-Trash, weeds, or other yard waste
-Root wads, dirt, or rocks
-Grass clippings
-Bags of leaves or pine needles
-Nails, wire, or other metal
-Thorny materials, including rose bushes
See you there!

09/30/2026

Winter is coming!! At this time of year, rain in Manitou, is snow on the Peak! Nice to see America's Mountain covered in snow again! Looks good on it!

We’ve officially got snow on the summit!

09/30/2026

Lots of rain forecasted over the next couple of days. Flash flooding is possible so stay vigilant and listen for the Manitou Warning Alarm. Should flash flooding occur, be prepared to move to higher ground. Stay Safe and Dry out there Manitou!!

Periods of showers & t-storms will continue over the entire region today and tonight, before gradually ending on Thu. Locally heavy rainfall/flash flooding is possible, especially over the Aspen Acres Burn Scar and the plains south of Highway 50.

09/30/2026

Local Agencies Celebrating a local hero, David. Helping with his responders to care for his Father on Barr Trail. Great Job David!!