The West Monument Creek wildfire burns at the U.S. Air Force Academy on Feb. 25, 2024. (Trevor Cokley/U.S. Air Force)
One of three fires burning on U.S. military installations near Colorado Springs is fully contained, and the other two are 75% contained, according to Tuesday morning updates from Fort Carson Army post and the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Fort Carson reported two wildfires on training ranges: one that started Sunday and burned about 700 acres, and one that started Monday and has burned about 2,700 acres. The Air Force Academy reported the West Monument Creek fire that started Sunday on the south end of academy grounds and burned about 168 acres.
The first, 700-acre Fort Carson fire is 100% contained, according to a 9:40 a.m. news release. The second fire, which ballooned to about 2,700 acres burned since the first Monday morning report of 100 acres, is 75% contained.
That fire began at Training Range 153 near the eastern perimeter.
Fire crews expected a heavy band of snow that blew through the Front Range on Tuesday to assist in extinguishing the fire, but an Army post spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for a Tuesday afternoon update.
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 Feb. 26, 2024. (Dylan Smith/U.S. Air Force)
No structures or personnel were threatened by the fire.
The West Monument Creek fire on Air Force Academy grounds stopped spreading Monday night and stayed at 168 acres burned, and an 11 a.m. update posted by the academy at 1:15 p.m. on X stated the fire was 75% contained.
The pre-evacuation orders for residents in the area were rescinded Monday evening.
On Tuesday morning, the academy was open to only Defense Department ID cardholders, contractors, and District 20 students, but the Clune Arena was expected to be open Tuesday evening for ticketholders to the Academy basketball game.
The child development centers and military treatment facilities reopened Tuesday for regular hours.
A video posted by the U.S. Forest Service of their crews working on the fire showed heavy snow in the area.
A spokesperson for the academy said they did not have a current update on the fire after the heavy snow blew through the area.
©2024 MediaNews Group, Inc.
Visit at denverpost.com.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
