Air Force Academy grass fire likely started by lightning

Monday’s grass fire that consumed a few acres near the Air Force Academy North Gate was likely caused by a lightning strike, officials said Tuesday.

An Air Force Academy representative told KRDO the early indication from fire investigators is that lightning caused the fire, which produced heavy smoke that blanketed Interstate 25 nearby.

Nobody was injured in the fire, and no structures were threatened, but the smoke could be seen as far away as our Cheyenne Mountain camera.

The fire is still under investigation.

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A small grass fire burned a rural area of the U.S. Air Force Academy campus and crews were working on extinguishing the flames Monday afternoon.

Smoke from the fire could be seen from Interstate 25 near North Gate. It’s not clear how big the fire is at this time, but it has consumed at least several acres.

Crews with the Colorado Springs Fire Department and other fire departments around El Paso County were called to assist with the containing the fire.

By about 4:40 p.m., CSFD crews began demobilizing from the area as smoke started to thin out. The fire was fully contained by about 6 p.m.

No structures were threatened by the fire.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.