Update as of 11:00 a.m. Saturday
The El Paso County Sheriff's Office tells News5 that the Meridian Fire is 100% contained, and has been completely put out.
Previous coverage:
Multiple crews from across the county are responding to the Meridian Fire burning east of Peterson Space Force Base.
Update as of 4:45 p.m. Friday
The fire is now 2,540 acres in size.
WATCH: Meridian Fire burning near Peterson Space Force Base now 90% contained
Update as of 3:55 p.m. Friday
The Meridian Fire is now 90% contained.
WATCH: A look at weather conditions at the Meridian Fire
Update as of 2:05 p.m. Friday
Franceville Road has now re-opened to traffic.
Update as of 1:00 p.m. Friday
The El Paso County Sheriff's Office says that Franceville Road is closed from Hwy 94 South until further notice. Crews are working to manage fare-ups in the area.
Update as of 9:45 a.m.
The Ellicott Fire Department has reported that the fire is now 80% contained, and approximately 2,515 acres have been burned.
Currently, the cause of the fire is being labeled as accidental.
Update as of 9:00 p.m.
The El Paso County Sheriff's Office reports that pre-evacuations and evacuations for the Meridian Fire have been lifted. Highway 94 has also reopened.
Law enforcement and fire resources will remain on the scene throughout Thursday evening and into Friday morning. Both the American Red Cross and animal shelters are now closed.
According to the sheriff's office, the Meridian Fire is more than 2,500 acres in size and is 70% contained. Three outbuildings were lost in the fire.
WATCH: Pre-evacuations and evacuations for Meridian Fire lifted, now 70% contained
Update as of 5:54 p.m.
The El Paso County Sheriff's Office (EPSO) has announced that almost all of the mandatory evacuations are now voluntary evacuations.
WATCH: Some evacuation orders are now voluntary for Meridian Fire, now 30% contained
The mandatory evacuations of Blaney Road south of Hwy 94, Hammer Ranch Road, and Francis Coalmine Road are still in place.
EPSO says that the fire is 30% contained, and has burned approximately 3,000 acres.
A Red Cross Evacuation Center will open at 6:30 p.m. at Patriot High School for anyone who has been evacuated.
An animal evacuation center is located at the El Paso County Fairgrounds at 366 10th St. in Calhan, CO.
Previous coverage:
Evacuation orders have been issued for Gusty Bluffs Point and Meridian Road north to Highway 94 and Franceville Coal Mine, and to the East border of Schriever Space Force Base in Ellicott due to a wildland fire near Gusty Bluffs Point and South Meridian Road.
More evacuations have been issued for Highway 94 and Franceville Coal Mine Road north to Davis Road, and east to the eastern border of Schriever Space Force Base in Ellicott due to the fire. You can see that map below.
WATCH: Colorado Springs Fire Department provides updates on Meridian Fire
According to the Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD), the fire has burned around 3,000 acres. The El Paso County Sheriff's Office says three out buildings have been destroyed in the fire.
WATCH: Evacuation orders for Meridian Fire burning east of Schriever Space Force Base
Additionally, around 2 p.m., the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has closed Highway 94 between Marksheffel Road and Blaney Road.
Watch: News5's Bill Folsom gives you a live look at the fire burning east of Schriever Space Force Base
Smoke is visible in the area of Meridian Road and Drennan Road and can be seen across the county. The size of the fire and its cause are unknown at this time.
Peterson Space Force Base has sent additional firefighters to assist CSFD in fighting this fire.
You can read their full statement below:
"Space Base Delta 1 officials are closely monitoring the grass fire burning west of Schriever Space Force Base to ensure personnel safety as well as mission continuity.
Three firefighters and one firetruck from the Schriever Fire Department have responded to the scene through a mutual aid agreement.
Non-mission essential personnel have been released from the base, and the Schriever North Gate remains closed to allow for emergency response actions.
Base residents have been notified that evacuation is not required. Schriever SFB is not under threat from the wildfire at this time.
Space Base Delta 1, which operates both Peterson and Schriever Space Force Bases, has placed its Emergency Family Assistance Center on stand-by and is prepared to assist with Schriever evacuations as necessary.
Schriever SFB is home to multiple Space Deltas, the National Space Defense Center, the Missile Defense Integration and Operations Center, and others. Schriever SFB is responsible for the command and control of scores of Department of Defense missile warning, navigation, and communications satellites."
News5 has a crew at the scene and is working to learn more.
Custer, El Paso, Fremont, and Teller Counties use Everbridge to reach community members during an emergency. To sign up in El Paso and Teller Counties, click here.
Are you prepared for the worst?
The 911 authority says that a new partnership with the ReachWell app will allow Peak Alerts to integrate seamlessly and allow for 130 different language translations. Reachwell does not require users to make an additional account or personal information to receive the alerts.
Once you have downloaded the ReachWell app follow these steps to get Peak Alerts through the App:
1. Download the ReachWell App wherever you download apps or visit rwell.us/ElPasoCO and accept push notifications
2. Select Preferred Language
3. Add Peak Alerts
Know your emergency alerts
Editors Note: The headline of this article initially stated Evacuation orders were issued for the Meridian Fire burning east of Schriever Space Force Base Thursday, the fire is east of Peterson Space Force Base and West of Schriever.
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A family in Colorado City says illegal dumping near their home is becoming a safety issue
One official told News5 the trash piles could be infested with rats or other dangerous factors, so they are waiting to work with the health department to remove trash from the area.
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