CSFD able to contain 3 alarm fire at Goodwill on S. Academy

COLORADO SPRINGS — Colorado Springs expect to remain on the scene of a fire at the Goodwill on S. Academy.

CSFD was called to an outside fire in the area just after 5 Sunday night. When the first firefighters arrived they saw a large column of smoke and called for additional units.

Capt. Mike Smaldino from CSFD said it appears a pile of about 50 pallets, along with some donated items behind the store first caught fire. At this time it's unknown what caused those items to catch fire, although there has been elevated fire danger in much of southern Colorado throughout the day.

At one point a 4th alarm was called but those crews were released because firefighters were able to contain the fire to outside the building.

At its peak there were 80 firefighters and 25 apparatus pieces at the scene.

Smaldino said one firefighter did suffer minor injuries and was taken to the hospital for evaluation, but is expected to be okay.

Late Sunday evening firefighters were preparing to bring in a backhoe to break up some of the debris, allowing firefighters to fully extinguish the fire.

Investigators are also at the scene checking nearby security cameras and trying to find the cause, but they say it will be a while until they are able to make that determination.