Firefighters from the U.S. Air Force Academy, Fort Carson and the Colorado Springs Fire Department dump water from air assets in their fight against the West Monument Creek Fire at the U.S. Air Force Academy on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024. As of 9 a.m., the fire was 20% contained and had burned 168 acres. (Justin R. Pacheco/U.S. Air Force)
(Tribune News Service) — 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 fire was 20% contained and had burned 168 acres by 9 a.m. Monday, though a prepare-to-evacuate order remains in effect for Pine and Douglass Valley housing, the Academy said in posts on X.
“Academy fire crews monitored the fire overnight with some firefighting,” the post said. “We expect air assets from Fort Carson (two helicopters) to assist with water dumps on the fire this morning.”
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, 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.
The West Monument Creek wildfire burns at the U.S. Air Force Academy on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Trevor Cokley/U.S. Air Force)
Firefighters from the U.S. Air Force Academy, Fort Carson and the Colorado Springs Fire Department dump water from air assets in their fight against the West Monument Creek Fire on the U.S. Air Force Academy on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024. (Justin R. Pacheco/U.S. Air Force)
Firefighters from the U.S. Air Force Academy, Fort Carson and the Colorado Springs Fire Department dump water from air assets in their fight against the West Monument Creek Fire on the U.S. Air Force Academy on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024. (Rayna Grace/U.S. Air Force)
Firefighters from the U.S. Air Force Academy, Fort Carson and the Colorado Springs Fire Department dump water from air assets in their fight against the West Monument Creek Fire on the U.S. Air Force Academy on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024. (Dylan Smith/U.S. Air Force)
USAFA officials said Academy operations will continue as scheduled Monday but the installation will be closed to the general public. 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.
(c)2024 The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Visit www.gazette.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
