Wild Horse Fire burned 580 acres near Fort Carson training area
EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- UPDATE: Fort Carson said at 5 p.m. that the Wild Horse Fire burning near Highway 115 is now 10% contained.
The highway itself has reopened after a closure that lasted several hours, and the fire size remains the same at 580 acres.
Helicopters are dropping water on the flames as fire crews continue to work on securing a perimeter around the fire.
Wild Horse Fire currently burning on Fort Carson. 580 acres in size at 10% containment. SW wind gusts to 30mph will blow smoke into the Colorado Springs area tonight. @KRDONC13 pic.twitter.com/9xwHyek67t
— Sam Postich (@SamPostichWX) October 12, 2020
Flames are now visible from Turkey Cañon Ranch road. pic.twitter.com/8y50Ntg7SC
— Chase Golightly (@cgolightlyKRDO) October 12, 2020
Another update is expected Tuesday morning.
Earlier
Officials with Fort Carson announced Monday that the Wild Horse Fire moved to a training area and burned hundreds of acres.
Mandatory evacuations have been lifted near the wildfire as firefighters work to put out the flames Monday morning.
The El Paso County Sheriff's Department clarifies that the area remains under pre-evacuation status.
About 580 acres have burned. The fire started on the west side of the highway but was able to jump the road due to high winds.
The fire is zero percent contained, but firefighters say they are confident about the fire break boxes they created surrounding the fire. High winds are not expected Monday but UH-60 Black Hawks will be ready to for additional assistance.
Several agencies are responding, including: Highway 115, Security, Colorado Springs, Cimarron Hills, CSU Utilities, U.S. Forest Service, Tri Lakes, Wescott, Palmer Lake and El Paso County Wildland. No structures or personnel are currently threatened.
Sunday afternoon, southeast highway 115 from Turkey Creek Rd. to Little Turkey Creek was under a mandatory evacuation notice due to the Wild Horse Fire.
As a result, 35 homes had been evacuated. Captain Mike Smaldino said 100 firefighters are fighting the Wild Horse Fire.
Editor's Note: A previous version of this story stated that the fire started on a Fort Carson training area.
