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Wildfires reported on 2 Colorado Springs-area military installations

Two Colorado Springs-area military installations were dealing with wildfires on a red-flag Sunday with warm temperatures and high winds.

Colorado Springs, Air Force Academy and U.S. Forest Service fire crews were battling a 150-acre blaze on the Academy grounds on Sunday, according to CSFD officials.

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

Guests and residents were asked to avoid the area and follow instructions from first responders. No evacuation order had been given at press time, but pre-evacuation orders were being issued for Douglass Valley and Pine Valley, Miller said.

Five CSPD brush trucks and two wildland units were on scene helping Academy and USFS personnel in their efforts to contain the blaze, which is located on the eastern border of the Pike National Forest, according to CSFD and Academy personnel.

CSPD crews were released for the night at about 6:30 p.m., with plans to return and continue supporting USAFA fire personnel Monday morning.

USAFA officials said Academy operations will continue as scheduled Monday but the installation will be closed to the general public. All patient appointments at the main medical treatment facility are canceled. The Visitor Center will also be closed.

Monday will be a virtual learning day for Air Academy High School students and staff. Douglass Valley Elementary School, also located on the Academy grounds, will be closed.

At Fort Carson, emergency services personnel were working to contain a 2,000-acre fire in a training area located in the southeast part of the installation.

No injuries were reported, and no structures were endangered by either fire, officials said. The causes of both fires are still being investigated.

Reports of a large plume of white smoke on Air Force Academy grounds began appearing on social media at about 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Courtesy of CSFD)
Reports of a large plume of white smoke on Air Force Academy grounds began appearing on social media at about 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Courtesy of CSFD)
A wildfire burns south of the cadet area of the Air Force Academy on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
A wildfire burns south of the cadet area of the Air Force Academy on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
A wildfire burns south of the cadet area of the Air Force Academy on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
A wildfire burns south of the cadet area of the Air Force Academy on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
Reports of a large plume of white smoke on Air Force Academy grounds began appearing on social media at about 1:30 p.m. (Rich Williams)
Reports of a large plume of white smoke on Air Force Academy grounds began appearing on social media at about 1:30 p.m. (Rich Williams)
Reports of a large plume of white smoke on Air Force Academy grounds began appearing on social media at about 1:30 p.m. (Rich Williams)
Reports of a large plume of white smoke on Air Force Academy grounds began appearing on social media at about 1:30 p.m. (Rich Williams)
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