Fire on Ray Nixon Power Plant property prompts evacuation

Employees were evacuated from the Ray Nixon Power Plant near Fountain Wednesday because of a fire on the property.

Steve Berry with Colorado Springs Utilities said the coal dust fire started in a coal handling area far west of the main power plant. He said the generators were not affected and the plant never stopped producing power.

Berry said the flames were immediately doused by a fire suppression system at the facility and that the evacuation of the plant was precautionary.

Colorado Springs Utilities tweeted at 10:25 a.m. that employees were returning to work.