Wind whips up fires in El Paso and Pueblo counties

A wind-driven grass fire burned near Yoder in eastern El Paso County Tuesday.

The Fossinger Fire burned 150 acres, down from an earlier estimate of 600 acres.

Several people were at the Antioch Community Church when they reported seeing flames and smoke.

“We could see it coming across the field toward us,” said Laura Hansen.

“It looked like a big thunderstorm,” said Hansen’s husband, Swede Hansen.

Voluntary evacuations were ordered inside a perimeter bordered by Shear Road, Edison Road, Yoder Road and Fossinger Road. Between 30 and 40 homes were evacuated.

The Sheriff’s Office said an emergency notification call was sent to the affected homes.

Several people used garden hoses to douse flames.

“We kept the fire from getting into our livestock and burning our barns,” said Kenny Cawood. “My neighbors came in from the west and we fought the fire and kept it away from the yard. Basically, with the help of the wind, we moved it.”

Multiple outbuildings and three to four homes were damaged by the fire.

Three people were treated for minor smoke inhalation at the scene. Authorities said an elderly resident refused to leave his home even though it was surrounded by flames and smoke.

“We can’t force them to leave,” said Commander Clif Northam of the Sheriff’s Office. “Our job is to advise them to leave. He’s OK but the house did (sustain) some fire damage.”

Multiple fire departments from across the county responded to fight the flames. Several residents expressed concern about tumbleweed piles serving as fuel for fires.

The cause of the fire has not been confirmed.

A second fire burned south of Highway 50 in Pueblo County.

Pueblo Rural Fire said a farmer was conducting an agricultural burn when the wind kicked up.

That fire was reported around 12:15 p.m. and firefighters quickly arrived on scene.

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