Colorado 115 reopened at 4 p.m. Thursday following more than a week-long closure between Colorado Springs and Penrose because of the 24 fire, according to Fort Carson officials.

“There will still be fire crews in the area and officials will continue to monitor and notify the public if the conditions or situation changes,” a news release stated.

Smoke and ash will continue to be visible from the highway, officials said. Drivers are asked not to call 9-1-1 nor stop along the highway, which could be closed again if the fire flares up.

Commuters should expect extra wildlife activity in the area, officials said.

Earlier Thursday, Fort Carson officials said the 24 fire, which has burned along Colorado 115 since March 18, was 61% contained with no acreage increase, even amid scorching temperatures.

Burning along the highway between Penrose and Colorado Springs, the fire remained at 7,385 acres. Fort Carson officials said that firefighters strengthened control lines overnight.

Their efforts on Thursday focused on mopping up and monitoring for hot spots, especially along Colorado 115. Officials said smoke would be visible due to burning within the contained areas.

Crews have been working to contain the blaze amid summer-like weather, with Colorado Springs, Pueblo and Alamosa breaking their daily heat records on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service in Pueblo.

All three of our main surface observation sites broke records today. Pueblo hit 90F, which breaks the old record of 81F set in 2004, Colorado Springs hit 83F, which breaks the old record of 75F set in 2012, and Alamosa hit 81F, which breaks the old record of 73F in 2012 #Colorado pic.twitter.com/9dyjO1TrNL

— NWS Pueblo (@NWSPueblo) March 26, 2026

The Weather Service issued red flag warnings across much of southern Colorado that ended at 8 p.m.

A reprieve from the heat came Thursday night thanks to a cold front. However, the Weather Service said “gusty” north winds will come with it.

Officials say the 24 fire was sparked by a malfunctioning vehicle parked along Colorado 115. Nearby grass caught fire due to the vehicle, and the blaze exploded from there. How the grass caught fire exactly is still under investigation.

Crews had identified the area with marking flags, which could be seen on Thursday afternoon alongside some debris near mile marker 20, which is 7 miles past the El Paso-Fremont county line near Penrose along Colorado 115.

No evacuations are in place for the fire. Prior orders have been lifted since Monday. Previously evacuated areas were on pre-evacuation status.

Elsewhere in southeastern Colorado, wildfire activity on Wednesday and Thursday appeared to be limited to Huerfano County.

Firefighting crews there fully extinguished the Turkey Fire on Thursday that broke out around ten miles east of Apache City and Interstate 25, according to the Huerfano County Sheriff’s Office. The wildfire ignited on Wednesday afternoon and was fully contained at 600 acres around 11 p.m.