Four condos in the Rockrimmon area burned or were damaged by smoke and water Tuesday in a fire that was the climax of a busy day for Colorado Springs firefighters.

Twelve fire engines responded to the wind-driven blaze at Ravencrest condominiums on Overland Drive.

Resident Carol Kendrick said that three units burned in about 20 minutes. Her unit is attached to the burned units, but firefighters were able to save her home.

The call came in as a grass fire at 5:18 p.m., so when the first firetruck arrived, within five minutes, firefighters lost time having to change gear, said Lt. J.J. Halsey.

Earlier Tuesday, 60 firefighters responded to a grass fire that threatened homes near Fillmore Street and Interstate 25.

Also, two fire engines were tied up in a traffic crash in which someone was trapped, Halsey said.

Dr. Karen Newell used a microscope July 11, 2007 to examine culture cells at the Institute for bioenergetics at UCCS. Photo by MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE FILE

MARK REIS