Family forced to evacuate as ’24 Fire’ grows to nearly 7,400 acres along Highway 115
PENROSE, Colo. (KRDO)-- As the "24 Fire" continues to burn along Highway 115, families who were in mandatory evacuation zones faced uncertainty, fear and the possibility of losing everything.
For many families impacted by the "24 Fire," the lifting of evacuation orders is bringing relief—but not peace of mind.
Residents in parts of Fremont County are now being allowed back into their homes, though access remains restricted. Only those who live in the evacuation zone are being allowed through checkpoints along Highway 115, which remains closed to the general public.
Fire officials say the fire has grown to nearly 7,400 acres and remains at zero percent containment. Crews have built control lines and are conducting backburn operations to slow the fire’s spread, but conditions remain unpredictable.
That uncertainty is exactly why some families are choosing to wait before returning.
Ava and Jason Holmes, who were forced to evacuate last week, have been staying with friends. Even with the opportunity to go home, they’ve decided to hold off one more night.
When the fire first broke out, Jason Holmes said the situation quickly turned serious.
“We grabbed what we could—important papers, irreplaceable items like things from my deceased brother—and just got out,” he said.
The evacuation didn’t just impact their home. Jason says his grandparents, who live next door, were also forced to leave, adding to the emotional toll.
After days of waiting and uncertainty, Jason admitted that the stress had become overwhelming.
“At one point, I was just like, ‘take my house so I can move on with my life,’” he said. “I hate to say it that way, but that’s where I was at.”
For Ava, the speed of the fire’s growth was shocking.
“We saw it the day before and didn’t think much of it,” she said. “Then I saw the smoke and called him, and we didn’t think it would come as fast as it did.”
Now, like many families in the area, the Holmes family is left waiting—unsure of what they’ll find when they finally return home.
Officials continue to urge residents to stay alert, monitor weather conditions, and be prepared in case conditions change.
For KRDO13's full coverage on the '24 Fire', click here.
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