UPDATE: Western Hills Fire accidental

The Teller County Sheriff’s Office says the Western Hills Fire near Florissant is believed to have been caused by a discarded cigarette.

The Sheriff’s Office says the fire that happened on April 7 was thoroughly investigated and found to be accidental.

All evacuations and pre-evacuations that were ordered for the fire were lifted Tuesday night.

The Western Hills Fire was burning off of County Road 11 near County Road 1.

The fire burned approximately 100 acres.

About thirty families were told to leave their homes. A shelter was set up at the Cripple Creek-Victor High School, but only one family took advantage of it.

Jim Vance says that as the flames got closer to his home, he decided it was time to get out. “We got stuff together, we have a back out vehicle, our trailer, we grabbed a few things and the dogs,” Vance said.

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