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• Smoke advisory issued for parts of La Plata County

  November 4, 2012 10:27 AM

  VALLECITO, Colo. (AP) - State officials have issued a health advisory for portions of eastern La Plata County because of smoke being generated by the Vallecito Fire burning in the San Juan National Forest. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment says the advisory applies to the towns of... more »

• Man packs smoke grenade, knives, gas mask, leg irons and body bags in luggage

  October 9, 2012 7:20 PM

  LOS ANGELES (AP) - Federal officials say they have arrested a man at Los Angeles International Airport after a smoke grenade, knives, gas mask, leg irons, body bags and a variety of weapons were discovered in luggage. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Tuesday that Boston-bound Yongda Huang Harris was... more »

• Restoration companies can help with smoke damage and smells Play Video

  July 2, 2012 7:21 PM

  We've lost 346 homes to the Waldo Canyon fire, but surrounding homes may have intense smoke, fire or water damage as fire crews worked to save structures. That intense smoke is the last thing you want to smell everyday when you come home. We found one one local... more »

• Ozone and smoke warnings in effect

  June 14, 2012 5:37 PM

  The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Regional Air Quality Council have issued an Ozone Action Day Alert starting at 4 p.m. for the Front Range Urban Corridor from El Paso County north to Larimer and Weld counties, including the Denver-Boulder area, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and... more »

• Several Arizona wildfires keeping crews busy

  May 14, 2012 1:17 AM

  PAYSON, Ariz. (AP) - Authorities say one of several Arizona wildfires has prompted a call for mandatory evacuations in the historic mining community of Crown King. State Forest Division spokesman Cliff Pearlberg says the Gladiator Fire has damaged two buildings and is burning on about 300 acres in the Bradshaw... more »

• Apartments evacuated, Hazmat called in

  April 8, 2012 4:52 PM

  Four apartments were evacuated after residents noticed an odor smelling like battery acid at the Casa del Rey Apartments in Colorado Springs. Hazmat was called in to investigate what residents speculated could be a meth lab, but it was determined that the odor came from some cooking pots that... more »

• Group calls for Jamaica to stop open fires

  April 4, 2012 9:31 PM

  KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) - A watchdog group in Jamaica says the island urgently needs tougher standards and enforcement for controlling smoke, soot and microscopic pollutants dispersed in the air from trash fires. The Jamaica Environment Trust says such pollution poses a serious health hazard. A government report released this week... more »

• Keep trying to quit smoking

  December 29, 2011 7:25 AM

  If your New Year's resolution is to quit smoking, you might do better if you accept the fact that you are likely to fail. That's according to Dr. Chetyl Healton of the American Legacy Foundation. She says failures can become learning experiences on the way to quitting. Writing... more »

• Controlled burn on Fort Carson Training Area

  November 17, 2011 11:53 AM

  See smoke south of Colorado Springs on Fort Carson? Well, you're probably seeing a controlled burn on the Fort Carson Training area along I-25 near mile marker 119 and Midway Ranch, between Pueblo and Colorado Springs. The burn area will be very large and you may also be able to... more »

• Smoke south of Colorado Springs part of prescribed burn

  October 21, 2011 4:25 PM

  The Colorado Springs Fire Department call center has been getting several calls over the last few days over smoke that is visible south of the city. What everyone is seeing, is a smoke plume from a prescribed burn on Fort Carson and the training area along Hwy 115. These prescribed... more »

• El Paso County Fire Crews investigate reports of smoke

  September 2, 2011 6:51 PM

  The El Paso County Wild-land Fire Crews are being dispatched on what they are calling a smoke investigation. At about 4:25 pm reports of smoke on the south side of Cheyenne Mountain began coming into the El Paso County Sheriffs communications center. Crews are in the area now working... more »

• I-25 closed at Raton Pass because of smoke

  June 12, 2011 4:35 PM

  New Mexico's State Forestry is responding to a fire in Raton Pass. New Mexico State Police have closed I-25 in both directions from Raton to the Colorado border because of poor visibility from the smoke. Colorado State Patrol has I-25 closed in both directions from the New Mexico state... more »

• Governor worries about job losses from Alamosa fire

  June 9, 2011 10:56 PM

  Governor John Hickenlooper says he worries about the people who have lost their jobs, even if temporarily, because of the massive fire that scorched 4 businesses in downtown Alamosa Wednesday night. The governor was visiting the San Luis Valley on a bill signing tour when the fire started. ... more »

• Custer County issues air quality advisory

  June 3, 2011 1:34 PM

  The Custer County Public Health Agency has issued an air quality advisory. Residents with chronic lung or respiratory problems are asked to stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed. The smoke is blowing from southwest to northeast and is coming from a fire near Alpine, Arizona. ... more »

• Smoke spawns 911 calls

  April 29, 2011 7:15 PM

  The smoke from the Wetmore fire is blowing toward Pueblo West. That has resulted in many people calling 9-1-1 to report possible fires. Residents are being told to report smoke or visible flames, as usual, but beware the smell of smoke in the air is mostly likely coming from... more »

• Southwest Airlines 737 lands safely after declaring emergency.

  March 13, 2011 2:17 PM

  A Southwest Airline flight from Phoenix, AZ was diverted to the Colorado Springs Municipal Airport when the flight crew declared an emergency with smoke in the cockpit. The emergency was declared at 11:10am and the aircraft made a safe landing at 11:40am and was met by emergency crews. Once crews... more »

• See smoke east of Pueblo?

  March 2, 2011 5:08 PM

  People are reporting seeing smoke east of Pueblo. According to the Crowley County Sheriff's office there are two controled burns: one in Crowley County and the other in Otero County. Photo from News First 5's David Ortiviz more »

• Fire burns 500 acres on Fort Carson

  January 25, 2011 5:45 PM

  A fire is burning in open country on Fort Carson. The army says it's about 60 percent contained already, but has burned about 500 acres. Fort Carson fire crews hope to have it contained by this evening. Smoke from the fire is visible from surrounding areas, including I-25... more »

• House fire send family into the cold

  November 14, 2010 9:18 AM

  Crews from Colorado Springs Fire Dept responded to 116 E. Washington St in Colorado Springs last night around 8:30pm when a fire broke out in the home. Occupants of the home were able to evacuate the home after encountering smoke in the upstairs bedroom. While the cause of the... more »

• Young people trying to get high off of Nutmeg

  November 11, 2010 2:27 PM

  What would grandma say? The same nutmeg you sprinkle on eggnog, or use in a pie recipe--is being used by some young people as a drug. Doctors say two to seven table spoons of nutmeg can cause people to hallucinate. But what some curious kids don't realize, it can also... more »

• Evacuation canceled at Memorial Hospital

  October 5, 2010 2:34 PM

  Enormous relief at Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs, where a momentary call for the evacuation of the central tower has been canceled without any patients being displaced. A report of a fire in the basement computer room turned out to be a freon leak. There is no fire;... more »

• Woman indicted for giving toddler marijuana

  September 15, 2010 7:39 PM

  CINCINNATI (AP) - A grand jury has indicted an Ohio woman accused of providing marijuana to her 2-year-old daughter and using her cell phone to record the child smoking the drug. Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph Deters said Wednesday that 21-year-old Jessica Gamble of Springfield Township in suburban Cincinnati was... more »

• Plane crashes near Rollins Pass in Colorado

  August 5, 2010 8:11 AM

  The Gilpin County sheriff's office says a plane crashed in the Arapahoe National Forest, but has few details. The sheriff's office received a call at about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday of smoke on Rollins Pass Road between Nederland and Winter Park. Sheriff's officials say U.S. Forest Service employees found a... more »

• Heavy smoke pours into Rye

  June 17, 2010 5:20 PM

  Heavy smoke is pouring over the mountains southwest of Pueblo. According to the Pueblo Sheriff's Office it is coming from the Medano fire at the Sand Dunes. The smoke is obscuring the view of Greenhorn Peak from Pueblo and residents of Rye say visibility is down to a quarter... more »

• Smokers find high in chemically-laced incense

  May 3, 2010 12:45 PM

  Some countries have already banned this substance, because they're afraid of the health effects. In the United States it remains legal because it's sold as an incense. It's not marijuana, but it looks very similar, and have been called names such as Pep Spice, Diamond Spice, and Diesel Spice.... more »

• Denver-bound airplane lands in Nebraska after smoke fills cockpit

  April 17, 2010 1:27 PM

  An airplane en route from New York City to Denver was forced to make an emergency landing in Lincoln after smoke filled the cockpit. Lincoln fire official Bruce Sellon says United Airlines flight 745, carrying 140 passengers, safely landed about 5:45 p.m. Friday. Sellon says the flight crew reported smoke... more »

• Diplomat released in Denver after bomb scare

  April 8, 2010 8:27 AM

  A law firm representing the Qatar embassy says the diplomat who prompted an airplane bomb scare has been released by authorities after questioning. The law firm, Brown Lloyd James, said Thursday the diplomat was on his way back to Washington. The firm also confirmed the diplomat is named Mohammed... more »

• Controlled burns in eastern Pueblo County

  March 10, 2010 5:31 PM

  If you're seeing smoke east of Pueblo--it's a result of controlled burns. The Pueblo Rural Fire District says the Pueblo Chemical Depot reported in advance that it would burn excess grass and brush Wednesday, to prevent a wildfire. In addition, farmers are burning their fields to clear debris... more »

• Jet with 74 aboard makes emergency landing

  March 8, 2010 9:00 AM

  Officials say a jet carrying 74 people made an emergency landing at the Aspen airport after smoke entered the pilot's cabin. Pitkin County Sheriff's Deputy Alex Burchetta says SkyWest Airlines flight 5940 made a safe landing Sunday afternoon and there were no reports of injury among the 70 passengers and... more »

• Smoky courthouse evacuated

  March 2, 2010 11:40 AM

  Hundreds of people have been evacuated from a New York City courthouse because of a smoky basement fire. Courts spokesman David Bookstaver says it apparently started in a wooden contractor's shed. The building in Lower Manhattan was evacuated at around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. A woman was helped outside with... more »

• Small plane crashes into Texas office building

  February 18, 2010 12:37 PM

  A small plane crashed Thursday into a multistory office building in Austin, causing a fire and sending black smoke billowing from the seven-story structure, officials said. At least two people were injured a third was unaccounted for. The Associated Press, citing an unidentified source, said the crash didn't appear... more »

• RV fire in Pueblo

  February 15, 2010 11:54 AM

  Fire destroyed an RV in a driveway in the 2600 block of West 6th Ave in Pueblo Monday morning. The fire also did minor damage to the front of the garage. The fire department is on the scene, battling the blaze. At this time, no one is believed... more »

• Parkview hospital goes smoke free in new year

  December 31, 2009 2:42 PM

  In Pueblo, Parkview Medical Center has made a new year's resolution to become a smoke free campus. Starting on January 1, smoking will be prohibited anywhere on the hospital's campus, including in parking lots, sidewalks, alleyways and greenways around the hospital. Parkview says it was the right time to make... more »

• Pueblo marijuana dispensary delays opening

  October 27, 2009 7:11 PM

  Pueblo leaders are trying to decide whether or not to allow medical marijuana dispensaries in the city limits. Two business partners planned to open one in the Mesa Junction area last week, selling not only loose pot but marijuana brownies and lollipops. However, the city attorney requested them to delay... more »

• California residents call for probe into fire response

  September 29, 2009 12:01 PM

  People affected by the massive wildfire that burned about 250 square miles northeast of Los Angeles are calling for a federal investigation into what they say was a poor initial response to the blaze. Angry residents of the Big Tujunga Canyon area packed a meeting hall Monday night to confront... more »

• College closes as Southern Calif. fire nears

  September 23, 2009 11:12 AM

  A college threatened by a 13-square-mile wildfire closed Wednesday as flames burned in hills above the campus. Moorpark College in Ventura County posted the closing announcement to its 2,500 students on its Web site Wednesday morning. County fire spokesman Bill Nash said the fire did not weaken overnight... more »

• Denver-bound Southwest flight makes emergency landing in Tampa

  September 8, 2009 6:59 AM

  An airline spokesman says an indicator light that warned of possible smoke aboard a Denver-bound Southwest Airlines flight forced the pilot to make an emergency landing in Tampa, Fla. A Tampa International Airport spokeswoman says passengers were let out of the plane on emergency slides Monday afternoon. She says airport... more »

• Fire flares up in Southern California

  September 3, 2009 12:12 PM

  A massive wildfire near Los Angeles has flared up and a new evacuation order has been issued for homes in a remote canyon. John Huschke of the U.S. Forest Service says 15 to 20 homes were ordered evacuated at around 4 a.m. Thursday as winds pushed flames into Pacoima Canyon... more »

• Hazy air taking a toll on asthma patients

  September 2, 2009 4:21 PM

  Wildfires burning in California, Utah and western Colorado have made Colorado's air hazy and prompted advisories from state health officials. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Safety Tuesday advised people with asthma , heart conditions, young people and the elderly to stay inside if visibility was less than... more »

• Firefighters making progress against California fires

  September 2, 2009 2:10 PM

  As firefighters set out for another day of combat against a giant wildfire north of Los Angeles, they've had a visit from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who helped serve them breakfast. Firefighters have created a perimeter around 22 percent of the blaze, but bulldozers still have 95 miles of fire lines... more »

• Health advisory issued for smoky skies

  September 1, 2009 6:17 PM

  Roaring wildfires in California and other western states and Canada have filled Colorado's skies with a choking , white haze. Tuesday afternoon, the state health department issued a health advisory: Active children, active adults, and people with respiratory illnesses should limit prolonged outdoor exertion from 2 PM until midnight tonight.... more »

• California wildfires to blame for our smoky skies

  August 31, 2009 5:03 PM

  Firefighters have been chasing down reports of smoke and the smell of smoke for much of the day Monday. Turns out the smoke has traveled a long way--from California. National Weather Service meteorologist Norv Larson said, "Looking at satellite trajectories, we can follow it all the way back to California.... more »

• 15 doctors behind most pot referrals in Colorado

  August 31, 2009 9:15 AM

  Statistics from the Colorado health department show two doctors are responsible for referring more than a third of the patients on the state's medical-marijuana registry. The Denver Post reports that of the roughly 10,000 medical-marijuana patients on the registry, 75 percent received their recommendations from one of 15 doctors. ... more »