CRIPPLE CREEK — When Mark Landsittel got word Wednesday afternoon that the Navajo fire was burning about a quarter mile from his home west of Cripple Creek, he had a sinking feeling.
“Ahhh crap, not another one,” Landsittel said just before hopping in his car about 4:30 p.m. and hurrying home from his job as a Teller County building inspector.
Landsittel has lived on the east side of Teller County Road 11 since 1978. He said he’s “seen quite a few fires,” including the Hayman fire that burned 137,000 acres and 133 homes nine years ago.