UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — As of 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, the West Monument Creek Fire at the United States Air Force Academy is 90% contained.
Officials at the Academy say that crews are in the mop up phase, which they expect will last through the weekend. They are continuing to watch the fire due to possible Red Flag conditions coming up later in the week.
WHAT WE KNOW
- Fire has burned approximately 168 acres
- Currently, the fire sits at 90% containment
- Pre-evacuations lifted for Academy housing
- The Academy is back open to the public
- Falcon trail remains closed
The Academy say they would like to thank their partners, including the Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) and the U.S. Forest Service for helping them fight the fire.
Snowfall in the area made the fire easier to fight on Tuesday. No structures have been damaged due to the fire.
As of 11 a.m. Tuesday, the fire was 75% contained. The Academy said precipitation and the increase in humidity have moved the area out of a Red Flag Warning.
Air Force Academy operations are continuing as scheduled. The Child Development Centers and Military Treatment Facility will be open regular hours.
As of 7:30 p.m. Monday evening, the Air Force Academy says the fire has burned 168 acres and currently crews have 50% containment established.
As of Monday evening, the Air Force Academy Fire crews say the majority of flames have died down and are monitoring hotspots.
Crews say the growth of this fire has slowed significantly.
Crews were able to get 20% containment of the fire Monday morning.
According to Dean Miller, the Air Force Academy Public Information Officer the pre-evacuation orders that were issued for housing on the grounds Sunday evening have since been lifted.
Academy School District 20 canceled classes on Monday at Douglass Valley Elementary. Students at Air Academy High School will have an e-synchronous learning day. District buses will continue pick up students who live on the Academy and need transportation to D-20 Schools and Special Education programs happening off-base.
CSFD said in a social media post it was helping respond to the fire Sunday. According to CSFD, they have a total of 31 personnel were on the scene Sunday helping Air Force Academy crews.
Katherine Spessa with the Air Force Academy tells News 5 that the fire is burning on the south end of the academy, west of the Pine Housing area.
#usafa and Colorado Springs firefighters are responding to a fire on the south end of the Academy, north of the Pine Housing area.
— U.S. Air Force Academy (@AF_Academy) February 25, 2024
Guests and residents are asked to avoid the area and follow instructions from first responders. No evacuations are directed at this time. pic.twitter.com/2PvinZBoVH
According to our crews at the scene, fire officials say the flames are beginning to move west, approaching U.S. Forest Service Land, should the bulk of the fire make its way there the U.S. Forest Service will become the lead agency on the fire according to officials.
Wind gusts on Monday did not bring too much growth as red flag warnings were set to expire across the Front Range around 6:00 p.m. on Monday.
Our First Alert 5 Weather team is tracking a cold front that should bring some moisture that has the potential to hit the fires throughout Tuesday.
This is a developing situation, but we are working to learn more.
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