Bear Wanders Into Colorado Fire Station and Leaves With Gear Bag

A bear made an unexpected visit to a Colorado fire station and left carrying a piece of firefighting equipment. The Colorado Springs Fire Department shared security-camera footage showing the animal walking into the bay at Station 16. In the video, the bear takes a gear bag and heads back out of the station. The department jokingly referred to the visitor as “Smokey the Bear,” while noting that the bear’s identity was only assumed. The social media post said the animal “grabbed our gear bag” before leaving quickly. It was not clear whether firefighters were able to retrieve the bag after the bear departed. Alongside the video, the department shared guidance from Colorado Parks and Wildlife as bears begin increasing their food intake ahead of winter. The recommendations included removing bird feeders, keeping pets indoors, and securing food and trash. Wildlife officials also advised people who encounter a bear to make loud noises in an effort to scare it away and make contact with humans uncomfortable for the animal. The department cautioned that bears’ reliance on human food sources is unsafe and creates risks for both bears and people. The footage showed the unusual station visit, but the available report did not provide further details about when the bear entered the building, what was inside the bag, or what happened after it left.