Waldo Canyon Fire Update 6-30-12 Am
Incident: Waldo Canyon Fire Wildfire
Released: 6/30/2012
Waldo Canyon Fire Update
For Immediate Release: June 30, 2012, 9 a.m.
Public Information: www.inciweb.org
719-520-7058, 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: 1,534
Location: West of Colorado Springs
Crews: 39
Size: 17,659 acres
Engines: 92
Percent Contained: 45%
Estimated Containment: 7/16/12
Dozers: 15
Water Tenders: 16
Cause: Under investigation
Helicopters: 5 Type 1, 3 Type 2 and 3 Type 3
Structures threatened: 20,085 residences and 175 commercial structures
Injuries to Date: 2
Cost to Date: $8,899,134
Structures lost 346 Residences 1 Outbuilding
Today's Events:
Fire activity is expected to increase today and tomorrow, with higher temperatures and decreasing humidity. Possible afternoon thunderstorms could also bring strong, gusty winds. Temperatures are expected to reach at least 15 degrees above season normal.
On the west side of the fire, crews will hold and improve line from Rampart Ridge Road south to Highway 24, eliminating hotspots where required, extinguishing roll-out logs, and continuing structure protection, with the aim of re-opening the highway as soon as possible. Night crews successfully performed a burnout operation in this area overnight.
Smoke may again be visible from Colorado Springs, as a large island of fuel within the fire perimeter continues to burn, but poses no threat.
Aircraft will make retardant drops on the northern perimeter as firefighters attempt to hold the fire south of Monument Creek. Three spot fires northeast of Rampart Reservoir are being aggressively attacked by air, bulldozers and hand crews. Firefighters will also continue construction of a contingency bulldozer line along Mt. Herman Road north of the fire.
Air resources will continue to be used to suppress fire activity in Williams Canyon on the southern flank of the 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:
Some residents have been allowed to return to their homes. Information on remaining evacuation, please go to http://www.springsgov.com/
El Paso County - Cascade, Chipita Park, Green Mountain Falls remain closed.
Air Force Academy
Evacuated areas include all housing areas on the base except the airfield.
Teller County
Cascades, Chipita Park and Green Mountain Falls remain evacuated. The City of Woodland Park evacuation has been lift to Teller County/El Paso County line. Official are evaluating the situation to determine when the evacuation can be lifted.
Refer to www.co.teller.co.us
US Highway 24 Remains 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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