Grass fires on I-25 lead to business, hotel evacuations

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO)-- The Colorado Springs Fire Department was on scene around 1 p.m. Sunday battling a large grass fire off I-25 near the Interquest exit. The fire burned around 38 acres before crews knocked it down.

CSFD ordered evacuations for hotels and businesses in the area, but the evacuations were lifted around 2:30 p.m.

A grass fire caused brief evacuations off I-25 and Interquest. It’s out now and we’re about to hear from fire crews. We’ll be live at 5:00 p.m. on @KRDONC13 with the latest! pic.twitter.com/NyHrC7w0vy

— Sydnee Stelle (@SydneeStelle) December 12, 2021

Captain JJ Halsey with the Colorado Springs Fire Department said that three other fires started along I-25 around the same time, near the Fillmore, Rockrimmon and Northgate exits. All of those fires were smaller, burning less than a quarter-acre.

While fire officials have yet to release an official cause, they believe the fires were all started accidentally. A Red Flag Warning was in place Sunday to warn people about the high fire danger associated with low humidity and strong winds in the forecast.

"We're gonna have that for a while until we get any kind of a significant weather pattern that brings in moisture and with the winds and the dry weather, and 65-degree temperatures, you know, it's not a good mix," Captain Halsey said.

No one was injured in any of the fires. Fire officials are asking the community to be extra cognizant of fire danger while humidity remains low.