Waldo Canyon Fire advancing toward Douglas County: Live Blog | News

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View official Waldo Canyon Fire updates on InciWeb

June 27 12:30pm: Pre-evacuation info for southwest Douglas County

“This is Douglas Regional 9-1-1 with a pre-evacuation warning.  The Waldo Canyon fire burning in El Paso County is expanding and poses a threat to residents of southwestern Douglas County.  The specific area included in this pre-evacuation warning is bounded by the Palmer Divide Road on the south, Noe Road on the north, Spruce Mountain on the east, and Rampart Range Rd.on the west.

 Residents in the affected area need to make immediate plans for the evacuation and care of family members and animals.  The Douglas County Fairgrounds in Castle Rock can accommodate evacuees and large animals should an evacuation become necessary.  Residents are urged to gather important documents, medications, and important personal effects so that they will be immediately available should conditions deteriorate.

 Please monitor local news channels for fire updates.  If the fire comes dangerously close to your area, an evacuation order will be sent to this same telephone number.  However, residents must maintain situational awareness.  If you are in danger, DO NOT WAIT for an evacuation order.  Take the initiative to leave immediately if local conditions warrant such action.

 Please refrain from calling 9-1-1 unless you have an actual emergency.  Check the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office website, DCSHERIFF.NET, for updates.  Again, this is a pre-evacuation warning for your area.    

If an evacuation is necessary, residents will need to evacuate to the North.”

June 27 Noon: Evacuation Shelters under operation by the Red Cross are located at:

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

Southbound I-25 open through Colorado Springs, Westbound travel off of I-25 extremely limited due to for fire operations.

June 27, 11:41am: The Woodland Park area, which was on pre-evacuation notice, has been issued mandatory evacuation orders. All of Teller County east of Highway 67 has been given standby evacuation notices.

June 27 11:01am: Click here for a SkyFOX video that shows just a glimpse of the devastation — a row of homes destroyed by the Waldo Canyon Fire.

June 27 10:44am: Chris Jose reports that wind gusts are starting to pick up in Colorado Springs.

June 27 10:30am: The Air Force Academy has scheduled a noon press conference to address its evacuation plan.

June 27 9:30am: Information about donating or volunteering to help fire victims or firefighting efforts: HelpColoradoNow.org. You can also call 211 in your community.

June 27, 8:57am: Red Cross said it has seven shelters opened throughout Colorado last night and over 300 people stayed overnight in Colorado Springs alone.

June 27, 8:35am: Pre-evacuation orders issued for Southwest Douglas County

June 27, 8:28am: Officials said Colorado Springs’ water quality has not been compromised.

June 27, 8:22am: For the newest map of the Waldo Canyon Fire evacuees, click here.

June 27, 8:15am: FOX31 source said police are looking for “person of interest” in connection with the Waldo Canyon Fire who is on probation for arson. Authorities at the press briefing have denied these claims.

June 27, 8:14am: Further trouble is expected from weather – not from winds but from the development of thunderstorms over fire.

June 27 8:11am: There is no fire on the south side of the highway near Ute Pass. Highway 24 remains closed.

June 27 8:05am: From press briefing: Police department evacuated 26,000 people last night. Still no estimate on the amount of homes lost but there is work being done to get that estimate, according to Colorado Springs Fire Chief Rich Brown.

June 27 7:53am: Just confirmed, the fire has ballooned to 15,375 as of Wednesday morning.

June 27 7:33am: Our Justin Joseph reports there is speculation in Colorado Springs that the Waldo Canyon Fire may have been caused by an arsonist. There has also been a post on Craigslist from an individual claiming to know who started the fire. Investigators cannot confirm that at this time. There may be an update at this morning’s 8 a.m. briefing.

June 27 7:21am: For more information on evacuated animals and how you can help them, visit the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region’s website.

June 27, 6:16am: All exit ramps from I-25 are open.  However, in three locations drivers will not be able to proceed west after exiting, but will be diverted to the north, south or east.  The I-25 exits with restricted mobility are at Woodmen Road, Nevada/Rockrimmon, and Garden of the God Road.

June 27, 6:15am: Fore additional information, the El Paso County Sheriff’s office has set up a mobile app that can be downloaded here.

June 27 6:02am: Mother Nature could help with a Flash Flood Watch for the burn area currently being issued for Wednesday afternoon. However, there is also a Red Flag Warning for most of the day, which could be equally harmful.

June 27 5:55am: Viewer video from Jerry Riley, who had to run from the flames shortly after taking it.

June 27 5:50am: Additional evacuations late Tuesday included Pinon Valley leading up to the Air Force Academy, Kissing Camels and Holland Park. Fire bearing down on the large residential neighborhoods of Mountain Shadows, Perefrine and Rockrimmon Wednesday morning.

June 27 5:24am: Air Force Academy closed its two residential areas and directed a base closure for normal operations Wednesday. “Only mission essential personnel and personnel in direct support of cadet activities such as in-processing and student academics should plan to report for duty,” the Air Force said on its Facebook page. This is the first time the Academy has ever issued a mass evacuation.

June 27 4:33am: From El Paso County Police scanner: “Another home is up in flames.” Number of homes destroyed still unsure. Expect more details at 8 a.m. press briefing.

June 26 10:45pm: Rich Harvey/Incident Commander: “The fire was able to breach our primary and secondary containment lines”

June 26 10:31pm: I-25 open at Interquest in Colorado Springs. All WB Exits closed from Academy to Uintah St.

June 26 10:29pm: The City of Colorado Springs has updated the Waldo Canyon Fire evacuation map. Click here

June 26 9:45pm: Mandatory Evacuation: Kissing Camel, including south of Garden of the Gods Road, west of Cennential Blvd., East of 30th St. North and North of Fillmore and Fontmore Rd.

June 26 9:47pm: An evacuation order has been issued by the City of Colorado Springs for areas that are 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. The Air Force Academy evacuated areas include Academy Dr. to the USAFA’s southern and western boundaries.

Fire is estimated at 6,500 acres.

June 26 9:38pm: Hickenlooper on flying over the burning subdivisions: “It was like looking at a military invasion”

June 26 9:37pm: Gov. Hickenlooper at the Waldo Canyon Fire command center: “If I could make an executive order for rain, I’d do it tomorrow…I’d do it right now!”

June 26 9:10 p.m. – AFA second evacuation (an additional area) : Academy Drive South to Pine Drive; Stadium Blvd. on the east; USAFA boundary on the west.

June 26 9:20pm: Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach: “It’s like an inferno… We have quite a few homes on fire right now.”

June 26 8:47pm: El Paso County Sheriff says more than 32,000 people have been evacuated. Unknown number of homes destroyed.

June 26 8:39pm: Based on the view from Briargate Parkway, it appears hundreds of homes are threatened and/or ablaze. Live cam here

June 26 8:25pm New Evacuation Shelter Lewis Palmer High School 1300 Higby Road, Monument

June 26 8: 20pm Mandatory Evacuation of the south portion of the Air Force Academy: North Boundary is Pine Dr. South Boundary is the USAFA Boundary, West Boundary is the USAFA boundary, East boundary is the Tri Intersection.

UPDATE June 26 8:14PM: The Flying W Ranch reported Tuesday evening that its complex has been destroyed.

UPDATE June 26 7:39pm: A second Red Cross Shelter has been set up at the YMCA on 2190 Jetwing Drive.  The Red Cross Shelter at Cheyenne Mountain High School is still accepting pets with evacuees.  Evacuees that want to take pets should go to Cheyenne Mountain High School. The Humane Society has set up an animal shelter at the Freedom Financial Expo Center on North Nevada.

UPDATE June 26 7:35pm: CLOSED: Southbound I-25 at Interquest Parkway due to wildfire smoke. Detour in place using CO 21.

UPDATE June 26 7:29pm: Colorado Springs just released this map showing the mandatory evacuation areas.

UPDATE: June 26 6:40pm Colorado Springs Utilities has turned off electric and gas from West of Centennial from 30th street to Flying W Ranch.

URGENT- June 26 6:25pm Mandatory Evacuation: All area north of Vindicator Drive and west of I-25, North to the Air Force Academy.

UPDATE 5:45PM Tuesday: NEW Phone Numbers for the Waldo Canyon Fire Information Center

719-520-7058, 720-402-7935, 720-202-4510, 720-237-9947, 720-237-3417

UPDATE June 26 4:25pm – The El Paso County Sheriff has up graded to Mandatory evacuation the communities of North Mountian Shadows and Peregrine (north of Chuck Wagon Road, west of Centenial to Orchard Valley Road, NW of Orchard Valley Road to Woodman Road).

UPDATE June 26 3:45pm – The El Paso County Sheriff has downgraded the Mandatory evacuation order for Crystal Park to Voluntary.

UPDATE June 26 – 1:10 PM – A new Pre-Evacuaion Notice has been issued for portions of Teller County near Woodland Park. A Pre-Evacuation notice is precautionary, and does not mean a Mandatory Evacuation is imminent, but only that you should be prepared to evacuate if necessary.

Hwy 24 is closed west of Colorado Springs – In particular, westbound is closed near the west exit for Manito Springs, and eastbound is closed at the El Paso/Teller County Line near Crystola.

Waldo Canyon Fire Joint Information Center telephone numbers are: 719-629-7322, 720-402-7935, 720-237-9947, 720-237-3417. For official Twitter updates: @epcsheriff and @springsgov