Officials with the Air Force Academy said the West Monument Creek fire showed no significant growth Monday night, and that the cooler wet weather Tuesday afternoon has helped firefighters bring the roughly 168-acre fire to 75% containment.

According to Air Force Academy spokesperson Dean Miller, academy fire crews alongside crews with the U.S. Forest Service will continue to address hot spots throughout the day Tuesday.

“Air assets from Fort Carson remain on call in case they are needed,” Miller said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, according to Miller.

According to Miller, the Academy remains closed to the general public Tuesday. It remains open to DOD cardholders, contractors and Academy District 20 students.

Air Academy High School will have another day of synchronous eLearning, while Douglass Valley Elementary School reopened Tuesday, according to an Academy District 20 spokesperson.

Clune Arena will open to the public beginning at 4 p.m. for the Air Force vs. Boise State men’s basketball game scheduled for 7 p.m., officials said.

According to USAFA officials, Academy operations will continue as scheduled Tuesday, with the Child Development Centers and Military Treatment Center resuming normal hours of operation.

Although critical fire conditions remain as gusty winds persist, precipitation anticipated Tuesday morning afternoon is expected to bring relief to fire crews.

Conditions are expected to change around 10 a.m. as a cold front brings slight snow precipitation and a change in the wind’s direction.

Meteorologist Kathy Torgerson with the National Weather Service in Pueblo said that precipitation would increase humidity and make conditions less conducive to the fire, but that another warm and windy front was on its way later in the week on Friday and Saturday.

Monday 

Fire crews at the Air Force Academy kept a wildfire from spreading Monday, despite gusty winds and ahead of snow Tuesday expected to bring relief.

The effort led by the 10th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department at the Academy brought together Fort Carson helicopters, a Forest Service hand crew and Colorado Springs Fire Department brush trucks and fire engines, according to a news release.

“This has truly been a team effort from across the region, and a huge thank you to everyone on the front line that is supporting this response,” said U.S. Air Force Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Richard M. Clark.

In a win for residents, the Academy lifted pre-evacuation orders previously in place for Douglass Valley and Pine Valley Monday evening.

According to Incident Commander Chief Ronald Prettyman with the Academy’s fire department, the fire is 50% contained as of 7:30 p.m. He said the “footprint” of the fire has not changed much since this morning, though the fire is not fully contained and hot spots remain.

The West Monument Creek fire on the Air Force Academy grounds was 168 acres as of 9 a.m. Monday. The fire was 150 acres late Sunday.

An uptick in the wind forecast Monday led to both the potential for damaging wind gusts in some areas, as well as widespread high fire danger threats.

The Fort Carson Directorate of Emergency Services Fire Department brought in two brush trucks, one UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter with bucket and two CH-47 Chinooks, according a Monday morning news release. The helicopters dropped over 14,000 gallons of water over the fire, according to the release.

A drone from the Colorado Springs fire department also provided aerial imagery helping to guide firefighting efforts.

The brush fire started west of the Academy’s Pine Valley family housing area at about 1 p.m. Sunday and grew in size to 150 acres, according to Academy spokesman Dean Miller. Academy fire officials requested aid from CSPD at around 1:40 p.m., CSFD officials said.

The Academy’s Emergency Family Assistance Center has been established to provide support to family members, military and government civilians seeking assistance.

The center can be reached at 719-333-3444, or 10fss.fsh.afrc@us.af.mil. The center is available to provide information and referral for military families affected by the fire. Families who have evacuated on their own need to update their family info in the Air Force Personnel Accountability and Assessment System.

Members in the academy community in need of mental health support can call the Military Family Life Counselors at 719-360-2870 or 719-895-0170.

Gazette reporters Mary Shinn, Savannah Eller and Abbey Soukup contributed.