Manitou Springs wildfire under investigation

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office says an arson investigator is looking into the fire that sparked near Manitou Springs Thursday night.

A Sheriff’s Office spokesperson said that the move is protocol when firefighters don’t immediately see the cause of a fire.

The fire was spotted just before 9:30 p.m. off U.S. 24 near mile marker 296.

Firefighters from the Manitou Springs Fire Department, Crystal Park, El Paso County Wildland Fire Crew and the Forest Service all responded to the scene.

The Schormanns live several miles west of the fire in the town of Cascade with their three miniature donkeys and a miniature horse. Becky Schormann said she is grateful that firefighters were able to contain the wildfire quickly. Memories of the Waldo Canyon Fire are still vivid for the Schormanns. They were evacuated for ten days.

“I still have my bags packed with my important papers sitting in my bedroom,” Schormann said. “If they say, ‘go,’ all I have to do is grab my bags. That’s two years now.”

The Schormanns also have to worry about flood threats. U.S. 24, the Schormanns’ only escape route, is prone to flash floods. But Becky said she is more fearful of the threat of wildfire.

The Schormanns are prepared to evacuated with their animals if need be and plan to do more mitigation around their home.