CPW is adding a new fire warning system to the trail app

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – JUNE 12: A fire truck approaches a smoke screen from the Black Forest Fire on June 12, 2013 north of Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Photo by Chris Schneider/Getty Images)

(COLORADO) – Colorado Parks and Wildlife has announced a new feature on the Colorado Trail Explorer (COTREX) mobile app that notifies users of active fire warnings.

According to CPW, COTREX is a free app that provides hiking information to local, state and federal agencies. Over two dozen agency partners use COTREX to publish real-time alerts, including seasonal wildlife closures, safety hazards and other important trail alerts.

COTREX will now include daily wildfire and prescribed fire alerts from trusted sources such as inciweb and the National Interagency Fire Center. The notifications are automatically displayed on the website and in the app. The warning includes descriptions, limitations, and links to additional resources when available.

“COTREX is a powerful trail research tool,” said Joe O’Brien, State Trails Program Coordinator. “We are very excited to release this fire alarm feature. We are committed to increasing the amount of official information we can provide to help the public recover safely and responsibly across the state. Even if you use other trail apps, we always recommend checking COTREX for warnings or closures and downloading a free map if cell reception is poor.”

According to CPW, the tool is designed to help outdoor recreationists make informed decisions about exploring an area. Although COTREX information comes directly from the best available public sources, wildfires are unpredictable and conditions can change quickly. CPW recommends always contacting local authorities for the most current information. Alerts also do not update outside of mobile networks or on downloaded maps.