Waldo Canyon Fire Update 6-28-12 Pm
Incident: Waldo Canyon Fire Wildfire
Released: 6/28/2012
Waldo Canyon Fire Update
For Immediate Release: June 27, 2012, 8 p.m.
Public Information: (719) 629-7322, www.inciweb.org
Email for Media: waldojicfire@gmail.com
Phone for Media: (720) 202-8521
(Joint Information Center Open Daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.)
Fire Facts:
Date started: June 23, 2012
Number of Personnel: 1,008
Location: West of Colorado Springs
Crews: 27
Size: 18,500 acres
Engines: 73
Percent Contained: 5%
Water Tenders: 3
Estimated Containment: 7/16/12
Helicopters: 2 Type 1, 2 Type 2 and 2 Type 3
Cause: Under investigation
Injuries to Date: 0
Structures threatened: 20,085 residences and 160 commercial structures
Evacuees: Approx. 32, 000
Cost to Date: $3, 200, 000
Structures lost Yet to be determined
Announcement:
Staffed road closures will be in effect at the following locations:
·● Forest Road 320, one half mile west of Mitchell Ave.
·● Forest Road 320 at Road 300. Road 300 will remain open.
·● Hwy 24 at the El Paso/Teller County line.
Today's Events:
Firefighters continued to make progress on the fire today with most of the growth was on the eastern perimeter of the fire. The fire burned actively this afternoon near Sand Gulch, but was successfully held east of Hwy 24. Crews and dozers are working to complete fireline to secure the northwest perimeter of the fire. The main area of concern continues to be the southeast perimeter near the Cedar Heights Sub-division. The fire did not progress further into the sub-division today, but firefighters are continuing to work on hotspots in the area. The spot fire north of Rampart Reservoir remained active throughout the day and continues to be a concern for firefighters. A multi-agency cooperative effort has been put in place to assist the Colorado Springs Fire Department with the structural group of the fire.
Firefighters will continue to patrol along Hwy 24 throughout the night. Crews will concentrate efforts in patrolling the Cedar Heights Sub-division and will assist to further secure the area. Thunderstorms passed over the fire area today and produced erratic winds with gusts up to 63 mph reported on the southeast portion of the fire. Winds are expected to die down overnight. The extra moisture in the air produced by the thunderstorms will help firefighters tonight by raising humidity levels. Air resources will be back over the fire by 8 a.m. tomorrow. The military has made helicopters available for use on the fire tomorrow on an as needed basis. A portable retardant plant is being set up at the Airforce Academy to shorten turnaround time and increase efficiency.
Evacuations and Closures
Currently on mandatory evacuation:
Cascade, Chipita Park, Green Mountain Falls, Crystola
City of Colorado Springs
All areas north of Garden of the Gods Rd. between I-25 to the east all the way to the western City limits and north to the Air Force Academy.
Air Force Academy
Evacuated areas include all housing areas on the base except the airfield.
Teller County
Refer to www.co.teller.co.us
US 24
Closed between Cave of the Winds and El Paso/Teller County line.
Pike National Forest
Order 12-08 closes the Pike National Forest in the area of the Waldo Canyon Fire as shown on map of order.
Currently on Voluntary Evacuation
Crystal Park, Manitou Springs
Red Cross Shelters
Lewis Palmer High School (1300 Higby, Monument, CO)
Cheyenne Mountain High School (1200 Cresta Road, Colorado Springs, CO)
Southeast YMCA (2190 Jet Wing Drive, Colorado Springs, CO)
Summit Elementary School, Divide, CO
Evacuees should register on www.redcross.org/safeandwell. Family and friends can check status there and also by phone at (719) 785-2724.
For information on sheltering animals, please refer to this document:
http://www.springsgov.com/units/communications/CompanionAnimalShelterinfforWaldoCanyonFireEvacuees.pdf
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