Unanswered questions and an active investigation into the Waldo Canyon Fire

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo, (KRDO) -- Three months after the Waldo Canyon Fire, investigators determined it was caused by human activity.

A decade later, little to no details have come out, and the fire remains an active case at the Colorado Springs Police Department.

Currently, a photo of the Mountain Shadows neighborhood burning hangs on the wall of the newly appointed police chief’s office.

Chief Adrian Vasquez says the fire impacted him both personally and professionally.

His own neighborhood, Peregrine, just south of the Air Force Academy, was among the areas forced to evacuate.

“I was here at work, rushed home to evacuate my home, my dogs, and my family,” he said.

Once they were out of harm's way, he headed back to work to help people get out, and couldn't believe how much was lost.

“Most police officers who worked that area were driving through the streets, with flames everywhere.  I think what comes to mind most is just the sheer amount of devastation,” he says.

At a meeting of several state and local agencies, CSPD was chosen to handle the investigation. Soon after that decision, the two victims of the fire were discovered.

The remains of William and Barbara Everett were found inside their charred home.

Vasquez, the head of CSPD’s Violent Crimes division at the time, would oversee the fire investigation for several years.

Ten years have gone by, and the case remains unsolved. However, Vasquez says they do know quite a bit about the fire.

According to the chief, CSPD knows exactly where in Waldo Canyon the fire started and they know it was caused by a person, not lightning, in an area not known for camping.

Beyond that, however, few details have ever been shared.

When asked why, Vasquez explained, “the ability, if needed, to prosecute the case.”

He says that if they were to release additional details publicly, and the case eventually went to trial, a defense attorney could say their client or a witness simply learned details about the cause from watching the news.

By keeping details private, CSPD can be sure that if someone comes forward with details that match the scene, that person must have been there that day, or knows who was there.

Unfortunately, until someone with those intimate details comes forward, the case can't move forward either.

Vasquez says he understands the frustration among the families who lost homes and loved ones.

“I know people want to know what investigators know, but please understand that the reason we're not releasing that information is that so that if somebody does come forward with information, then we can be ready to hold somebody accountable.”

“Everybody deserves some closure on this, and I hope we get that someday,” he says.

The chief said if anyone has information about the fire that investigators might not have, it’s best to come forward just in case those details aren’t known to the police.

It just may be the key piece of evidence that helps to move this case forward.