Fires in Estes and Garden of the Gods Waldo Fire

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Waldo Canyon Fire Update 7-1-12 Pm

Incident: Waldo Canyon Fire Wildfire
Released: 1:25 hrs. ago

Waldo Canyon Fire Update

For Immediate Release: July 1, 2012, 8 p.m.

Public Information: [url=http://www.inciweb.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;]www.inciweb.org[/url]
(Joint Information Center Open Daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.)

Fire Facts:

Date started: June 23, 2012
Number of Personnel: 1,581
Location: West of Colorado Springs
Crews: 39
Size: 17,827 acres
Engines: 83

Percent Contained: 55%
Estimated Containment: 7/12/12

Dozers: 15
Water Tenders: 16
Cause: Under investigation

Helicopters: 5 Type 1, 3 Type 2 and 3 Type 3

Structures threatened: 10,000 residences and 100 commercial structures
Injuries to Date: 3

Cost to Date: $11,102,837

Structures lost 347

Today's Update:

Little growth was seen on the Waldo Canyon fire today as firefighters continued to make progress toward containment. Previously unburned islands within the fire perimeter became more active today with the hotter and dryer weather conditions and produced intermittent periods of smoke. Firefighters worked to secure the spot fire north of Rampart Reservoir. Crews are now working east from Rampart Reservoir along the north perimeter of the fire and into West Monument Creek. The north flank of the fire continues to have little growth with help from aircraft and retardant. A 50 acre island of unburned fuel west of the Air Force Academy was successfully burned out today to help secure the western perimeter of the fire. Fire equipment continue to make progress on contingency line along Mount Herman Road north of the fire and hope to have it completed this next week.

Highway 24 was reopened to all traffic at 12 p.m. today as residents returned home. Further evacuations will be lifted at 8 p.m. tonight for the Peregrine and Woodman Valley neighborhoods.

Crews will continue to patrol communities along Highway 24 and along the southeast perimeter of the fire tonight. Firefighters will work to secure the fire on the northwest perimeter, between Rampart Road and Hwy 24, where drier fuels and higher winds caused the fire to burn more actively throughout the day. A Red Flag Warning will remain in effect until 9 p.m. tonight. Thunderstorms will remain in the area until later this evening. Aircraft is available to assist crews if needed.

Evacuations and Closures

City of Colorado Springs:

[url=http://www.springsgov.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;]www.springsgov.com[/url]

Pike National Forest

Order 12-08 closes the Pike National Forest in the area of the Waldo Canyon Fire as shown on map of order.

Red Cross Shelters

Lewis Palmer High School (1300 Higby, Monument, CO)

Cheyenne Mountain High School (1200 Cresta Road, Colorado Springs, CO)

Southeast YMCA (2190 Jet Wing Drive, Colorado Springs, CO)

Summit Elementary School, Divide, CO

Evacuees should register on www.redcross.org/safeandwell . Family and friends can check status there and also by phone at (719) 785-2724.

For information on sheltering animals, please refer to this document:

http://www.springsgov.com/units/communi ... acuees.pdf