Mandatory evacuation for fire lifted for hundreds of Stetson Hills homes

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- The Colorado Springs Fire Department issued a mandatory evacuation order in the Stetson Hills area due to a fire Thursday afternoon. After nearly four hours, the evacuation order was lifted.

Thursday night, the Colorado Springs Fire Department said the Akerman Fire was 100% contained, and burned 30 acres.

At 12:12 p.m., an emergency alert was sent out saying the area of Anna Lee Way west to Tutt, Stetson Hills north to Dublin needs to evacuate immediately.

Below was a look at the evacuation map.

At 4:04 p.m. , the Colorado Springs Department of Public Safety Communications Center announced the evacuation order had been lifted.

Police say evacuees from this fire are being sent to UCHealth Park.

School District 49 says students of Stetson Elementary need to be picked up immediately due to the fire evacuations.

• Skyview Middle School Students will be at Sand Creek High School for student pick up at the east entrance.
• Ridgeview Elementary Students will be at Vista Ridge High School for pick up.

The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region is taking animals at 610 Abbott Lane.

Just after 2 p.m., the CSFD provided an update on the fire. According to officials, the fire began in the middle of the Ridgeview Homes neighborhood. CSFD is referring to it as the Akerman Fire.

According to CSFD, the fire has burned 25 acres as of 2 p.m., 500 homes were evacuated, and 26 fire units with 70 firefighters responded.

The Colorado Springs Fire Marshal said only a couple of homes were damaged and it's unclear what started the fire.

The Colorado Springs Fire Department first reported the grass fire just before 11:30 a.m.

This is a developing story. KRDO has a crew headed to the scene.