News Release
Incident: Waldo Canyon Fire Wildfire
Released: 6/29/2012
Waldo Canyon Fire Update
For Immediate Release: June 29, 2012, 9 a.m.
Public Information: www.inciweb.org
720-520-7058, 720- 520-7059, 720-202-4510, 720-402-7935 ,720-237-3417, 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: 1,118
Location: West of Colorado Springs
Crews: 33
Size: 16,750 acres (reduction due to better mapping)
Engines: 76
Percent Contained: 15%
Estimated Containment: 7/16/12
Dozers: 11
Water Tenders: 4
Cause: Under investigation
Helicopters: 3 Type 1, 3 Type 2 and 2 Type 3
Structures threatened: 20,085 residences and 160 commercial structures
Injuries to Date: 1
Cost to Date: $5, 202, 526
Structures lost 347
Today's Events:
Firefighters reported little activity on the fire last night as humidity levels remained high. They were not able to perform planned burnout operations needed to reinforce lines already constructed due to these conditions. Hand crews constructed direct line at the top of the fire, east of Hwy 24. In the burned area of Colorado Springs, firefighters assisted City firefighters with mop-up of non-structural materials. Strong wind gusts tested lines in the lower Queens Canyon last night, with the lines holding.
Today firefighters will continue to construct direct line and support city firefighters in Colorado Springs. Crews will be working extensively in the West Monument Creek area, which provides the majority of the Colorado Springs water. Dozers will be used to construct contingency lines along Mount Herman Road. Aerial support will be utilized today to aid firefighters. To date 14,154 gallons of retardant and 384,205 gallons of water have been dropped on the Waldo Canyon Fire.
Evacuations and Closures
City of Colorado Springs:
Evacuation Order reduced Pre-Evacuation Notice: North & West Boundary - Woodmen Rd to W. Rockrimmon Blvd. Where West Rockrimmon Road turns to South Rockrimmon cut in a south westerly direction through Ute Valley Park. Go through Ute Valley Park diagonally until even with Hunters Ridge Road. Cut ninty degrees to a south easterly direction between Hopner Ct and Ledge Rock Trl. Then cut back, leaving Ute Valley Park to the north tip of List Drive to Centennial Drive. Turn right on Centennial drive to N 30th St. South Boundary - West Garden of the Gods Road. East Boundary I-25.
Residents in these neighborhoods can return home at 8 p.m:
Southeast area of Rockrimmon including Golden Hills and Tammaron subdivisions (southeast of Woodmen Rd./Rockrimmon Blvd. to S. Rockrimmon)
Pine Cliff
Kissing Camels (East of 30th street from Gateway Road to Garden of the Gods Road)
Holland Park
Pleasant Valley
The apartment complex at Garden of the Gods Rd. and 30th Street.
Currently on mandatory evacuation:
City of Colorado Springs:
Cedar Heights
West of 30th Street from Gateway Road to Centennial
Pinon Valley
Mountain Shadows
Perregrine
Rockrimmon (northwest of Woodmen Rd./Rockrimmon Blvd. and Vindicator)
Cascade, Chipita Park, Green Mountain Falls, Crystola.
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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