Firefighters reach 10% containment on Wild Horse fire at Fort Carson
Fire crews achieved 10% containment of the Wild Horse fire Monday afternoon as it burns on Fort Carson and west of Colorado 115 south of Colorado Springs, according to a news release from Aleah Castrejon, a spokeswoman for Fort Carson.
The fire prompted the three-hour closure of Colorado 115 Monday afternoon between mile markers 32 and 38 as of 12:45 p.m., the news release announced. Fort Carson crews used UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters in that area in an effort to keep the fire from jumping to the west side of the highway, prompting the temporary road closure, according to the news release.
Crews worked on the southern perimeter to put out hotspots, officials said. Helicopter bucket operations dumped water along CO-115 Monday.
The Wild Horse fire remained at 580 acres Monday afternoon, the news release stated. Officials expect the fire to remain active and smoke will be visible for the next few days. Aerial resources are expected to return Tuesday to resume bucket operations, the release noted.
Fire lines will continue to be built with Fort Carson crews Tuesday, officials said.
The blaze, which erupted Sunday evening, is burning about 20 miles south of downtown Colorado Springs near Fort Carson’s Gate 6. Smoke could be seen from Colorado Springs Sunday evening and after sunset, the fire’s glow was visible near Cheyenne Mountain. Gate 6 is near one of Fort Carson’s most-used training ranges, which includes an urban warfare simulator that covers the equivalent of several city blocks.
The fire started on the west side of the highway but jumped across the road because of gusty winds and began burning on the post in the training areas, Castrejon said. There is no threat to the main part of the base, she added.
Crews from Southwest Highway 115 fire station, Security, Colorado Springs, Cimarron Hills, CSU Utilities, U.S. Forest Service, Tri Lakes, Wescott, Palmer Lake and El Paso County Wildland were helping the Army fight the fire.
Castrejon said emergency departments were confident about the progress made so far to suppress the fire, including the use of the UH-60 Black Hawks. The choppers from Fort Carson’s 4th Combat Aviation brigade can carry buckets to dip water out of nearby ponds and dump it on the blaze.
CO-115, which connects Colorado Springs to Penrose, was closed for much of Sunday during the fire, forcing a lengthy detour for some to Interstate 25 and U.S. Highway 50.
Residents of the Turkey Creek area were told to evacuate late Sunday and instructed to leave immediately, according to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office. At about 8:45 a.m. Monday, all evacuation orders sent to 307 residents were lifted, Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Jacqueline Kirby said.
Firefighters responding to the Incline fire burning on Pikes Peak near Manitou Springs reached 100% containment and was extinguished all hot spots Sunday. The fire is believed to be caused by arson, officials have said.
The popular Manitou Incline and Barr Trail, which closed while crews responded to the fire, are open as of Monday, as is the Barr Trail parking lot. The fire, which grew up to 3 to 5 acres at its peak, is expected to have minimal lasting environmental effects, as it was mostly low intensity and only burned leaf litter and grass, Dawn Sanchez, the spokeswoman for the fire department said.
“The area which experienced high intensity burn is not expected to impact the Barr Trail or cause any erosion issues,” Sanchez said.
Farther north, at the Cameron Peak fire, the state’s third largest fire burning west of Fort Collins in the Arapaho and Roosevelt national forests, firefighters continue to hone in containment with 47% reported as of Monday morning, according to inciweb.gov, an official fire website. The blaze had scorched 134,559 acres as of Monday.
Winds up to 50 mph could make firefighters attempt to protect structures and mop up more difficult Monday, officials said.
Mandatory evacuations for parts of Larimer County near CO-14 from Kelly Flats west to the Fish Hatchery were reduced to voluntary evacuations Sunday afternoon.
About a mile stretch along Highway 115 was charred by the Wild Horse fire on Sunday. Crews continued to fight the fire on Monday. The highway was shut down down on Sunday afternoon, but reopened for Monday morning. Then a section of Highway 115 was temporarily shut down Monday afternoon so helicopters could attack the fire with water drops. Monday, October 12, 2020 just south of Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
A firefighter knocks down hot spots underneath tall charred pine trees along Hwy. 115 on Monday, October 12, 2020. The Wild Horse Fire started on Sunday afternoon and the highway was shutdown except for local traffic. It had reopened by Monday morning, but temporarily shut down Monday afternoon so helicopters could attack the fire with water. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)tern
Fort Carson crews use helicopter bucket drops to assist firefighters Tuesday. A helicopter drops water on the Wild Horse fire south of Colorado Springs. About a 1 1/2 mile stretch along Hwy. 115 was charred by the Wild Horse Fire that started on Sunday. Crews continued to fight the fire on Monday. The highway was shut down down on Sunday afternoon, but reopened for Monday morning. Then a section of Highway 115 was temporarily shut down Monday afternoon so helicopters could attack the fire with water drops. Monday, October 12, 2020. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
A helicopter drops water on a fire south of Colorado Springs. About a 1 1/2 mile stretch along Hwy. 115 was charred by the Wild Horse Fire that started on Sunday. Crews continued to fight the fire on Monday. The highway was shut down down on Sunday afternoon, but reopened for Monday morning. Then a section of Highway 115 was temporarily shut down Monday afternoon so helicopters could attack the fire with water drops. Monday, October 12, 2020. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)tern
The former Wild Horse Restaurant was protected crews on Sunday due to the Wild Horse Fire. Crews continued to fight the fire on Monday. The highway was shut down down on Sunday afternoon, but reopened for Monday morning. Then a section of Highway 115 was temporarily shut down Monday afternoon so helicopters could attack the fire with water drops. Monday, October 12, 2020. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)tern
The Wild Horse Fire started on the west side of Hwy. 115 and shut down the highway on Sunday, October 11, 2020. The fire jumped the highway and started burning on Ft. Carson. Pikes Peak regions municipalities have lifted fire bans in place around the area. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
The Wild Horse fire started on the west side of Highway 115 and shut down the highway Sunday, October 11, 2020. The fire jumped the highway and started burning on Fort Carson. There were red flag warnings Sunday with 40-50 mph at the time of the fire. There were about 100 firefighters from 15 different agencies dispatched to the fire. About 200 acres had burned as of Sunday evening. Structure protection was used on the former Wild Horse Restaurant. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
The Wild Horse fire, which burned as estimated 200 acres on Fort Carson Sunday, is seen glowing in the distance from the area of Constitution Avenue and North Academy Boulevard Sunday night. Photo courtesy of Bryce McCright.
On Sunday evening, the Wild Horse Fire kicks up along Hwy. 115. Earlier in the afternoon, the fire started on the west side of the highway and eventually jumped to the Ft. Carson side. There were red flag warnings on Sunday with 40-50 mph at the time of the fire. There were about 100 firefighters from15 different agencies dispatched to the fire. About 150-200 acres had burned as of Sunday evening. Structure protection was used on the former Wild Horse Restaurant on Sunday, October 11, 2020. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
The Wild Horse Fire started on the west side of Hwy. 115 and shut down the highway on Sunday, October 11, 2020. The fire jumped the highway and started burning on Ft. Carson. There were red flag warnings on Sunday with 40-50 mph at the time of the fire. There were about 100 firefighters from15 different agencies dispatched to the fire. About 150-200 acres had burned as of Sunday evening. Structure protection was used on the former Wild Horse Restaurant. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
The Wild Horse Fire started on the west side of Hwy. 115 and shut down the highway on Sunday, October 11, 2020. The fire jumped the highway and started burning on Ft. Carson. There were red flag warnings on Sunday with 40-50 mph at the time of the fire. There were about 100 firefighters from15 different agencies dispatched to the fire. About 150-200 acres had burned as of Sunday evening. Structure protection was used on the former Wild Horse Restaurant. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
On Sunday evening, the Wild Horse Fire kicks up along Hwy. 115. Earlier in the afternoon, the fire started on the west side of the highway and eventually jumped to the Ft. Carson side. There were red flag warnings on Sunday with 40-50 mph at the time of the fire. There were about 100 firefighters from15 different agencies dispatched to the fire. About 150-200 acres had burned as of Sunday evening. Structure protection was used on the former Wild Horse Restaurant on Sunday, October 11, 2020. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
On Sunday evening, the Wild Horse Fire kicks up along Hwy. 115. Earlier in the afternoon, the fire started on the west side of the highway and eventually jumped to the Ft. Carson side. There were red flag warnings on Sunday with 40-50 mph at the time of the fire. There were about 100 firefighters from15 different agencies dispatched to the fire. About 150-200 acres had burned as of Sunday evening. Structure protection was used on the former Wild Horse Restaurant on Sunday, October 11, 2020. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)