The famed Palisade Peach Festival is open to the public Saturday after a fire broke out during a fireworks show Friday night.
The fire started just after 9 p.m. and has burned 3 to 5 acres of steep terrain on the south side of the Colorado River, the East Orchard Fire Department said in a Facebook post.
One car was damaged, but no homes were affected and no injuries were reported, the fire department said. The festival was evacuated after the fire began.
The festival — which draws visitors from around the state — will go on as planned Saturday, the Palisade Chamber of Commerce said in a Facebook post.
Crews worked throughout the night to mitigate the fire, but “there is potential for the fire to grow this afternoon,” the fire department said. A Red Flag warning is in the forecast for Saturday afternoon, with hot and dry weather and winds up to 30 miles per hour are expected.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, fire officials said, but fireworks are suspected as the cause.
The Palisade Peach Festival, which brings the masses to the Western Slope every August, features the region’s iconic fruit, along with food, entertainment and contests.