Wildfire Destroys One Home, Endangers Many

EL PASO COUNTY – It took firefighters about 24 hours to getcontrol ofa massive wildfire in Eastern El Paso County that began shortly after noon Saturdaynear Highway 94andQuail Road, between Colorado Springs and Ellicott.

By11:00Sunday morning, crews had reported getting the fire 100% contained and 100% under control. Crews have spent their Mother’s Day monitoring hot spots.

The blaze swept across the dry grassland and hopped across many small roads.Fire crews believe a total of 13 square miles was torched (8,320 acres). A spokesperson for Schriever Air Force Base says 600 acres were on non-essential, military land.

115firefighters from 15 agencies worked to save homes in the area.

Ashley Row, a NEWSCHANNEL 13, viewer says she knows the person who lost a home in the fire. She says he went home to save some possessions and the next thing he knew,a wall was on fire. He was able to escape unharmed.No injuries have been tied to the fire.

The official cause of the fire has not been announced, but it was believed to have sparked bya cigarette thrown from a moving vehicle.To view aslideshowof viewer photos,click here.