Five homes have close call in Falcon grass fire

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of Monday’s wildfire in Falcon is that no homes were destroyed or damaged despite strong, shifting winds that made firefighting difficult for crews.
Authorities said five homes were at greatest risk from the fire, as flames came to within several feet of the structures.

One of the homeowners, Jolene Camden, feared the worst when she evacuated Monday night.

“It took maybe 30 minutes from seeing the fire on the horizon to reaching my property line,” she said. “I thought for sure that I was seeing my home for the last time.”

But Camden said she people helped her and her husband evacuate, and took her dogs and horses to safety.

“I really want to thank a military guy, Chris Jaskoski,” she said. “He helped place my hose along my fence and kept my grass wet to save my house.”

Camden’s neighbor, Robert McCabe, said keeping his lawn mowed and using his own water to soak it helped protect his property.

“The firefighters really did a great job,” he said. “When I woke up this morning, there was a Colorado Springs fire truck in my backyard. That’s pretty cool.”

Authorities said the ability to save or protect structures depends on the size and speed of a fire, the time available to firefighters and the amount of resources on hand.

“Having houses spread far apart and being able to get fire apparatus in and out quickly also makes a big difference,” said Capt. Drew Olson, of the Falcon Fire Department.