Waldo Canyon Fire Update – 9 a.m. MT
Highlighted represent new/updated information since previous release
LATEST FIRE INFO (please continue to check www.inciweb.org for official updates):
Size: 3446 acres (updated number after infrared flight on Sunday evening) and growing with 0% containment.
Fire personnel are focusing on infrastructure protection and containing the fire on the north side of Highway 24. No structures lost or immediately threatened. No injuries reporter. Mitigation efforts and bulldozed areas allowed the fire line to be held last evening near the Cedar Heights subdivision. The fire has crossed areas of Rampart Range Road in some areas and is in Queen’s Canyon, but is far from the Glen Eyrie structures. Fire has gotten closer to US 24, but has not reached the road. Today, the first offensive attack on the fire is planned working in the Cascade area.
The weather forecast does present high fire danger with high temperatures (upper 90s), winds (25-30 mph gusts from the south) and no cloud cover. There is a red flag warning issued today.
Due to air quality from the smoke, the very young, elderly and those with respiratory conditions should stay inside as much as possible with windows and doors closed. Strenuous outdoor activity should be limited.
Resources on the fire: Approximately 450 personnel activated from multiple agencies.
CLOSURES:
• US 24 closed in both directions between Cave of the Winds and Crystola.
• Red Rock Canyon Open Space, Garden of the Gods Park, Palmer Park, Cheyenne Canon Park, Pikes Peak Highway and High Drive are CLOSED. Please avoid gathering outdoors to watch fire activity and instead follow news through local media outlets.
• Memorial Outpatient Rehab in Woodland Park will be closed tomorrow.
MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDERS:
· Farish and Carrol Lake areas off Rampart Range Rd.
· Cedar Heights Subdivision and Mountain Shadows south of Chuck Wagon Rd. Boundaries are Rampart Range Road to the west and everything west of 30th and Centennial from Gateway Road north to Chuck Wagon.
· Cascade, Chipita Park and Green Mountain Falls.
· The evacuation order for Manitou Springs was lifted at 8 p.m. on Sunday. This does not include Crystal Park in unincorporated El Paso County.
· At the height of evacuations, approximately 13,542 residences were threatened. No structures have been lost and no injuries have been reported.
· Fire engines are staged in evacuated subdivisions for structure protection. CSPD and EPC Sheriff's Office are also in these areas for security and to staff closure points. Please respect all barricades and closures for your safety and safety of first responders.
If you are evacuated, do NOT turn off your gas. This is per Colorado Springs Utilities which will do mass shut offs if necessary.
Black Hills Energy has shut down gas to Cascade as a precaution (CORRECTED: not Green Mountain Falls).
PRE-EVACUATION ORDERS:
· Pre-evacuation orders issued by Teller County for Woodland Park - East of Safeway, north of Safeway to Rampart Range Rd. and west to Edlowe Rd.). Pre-evacuation means prepare to evacuate by getting important documents and medications together and stay tuned to local media for info.
EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION
To register a phone number (mobile or land) for reverse 911, go to www.elpasoteller911.org or call (719) 785-1900.
OPEN SHELTERS
• Red Cross shelter for residents evacuated is located at Cheyenne Mountain High School (1200 Cresta Road) and Summit Elementary School in Divide at 490 Meadow Park (moved from Woodland Park High School). To check if family is registered at a shelter, call Red Cross at (719) 785-2724 or check www.redcross.org/safeandwell. There is no phone number to call and talk to anyone staying at a shelter. Evacuees can register their status at www.redcross.org/safeandwell so friends and families can check status.
• Animal Shelters list at http://www.springsgov.com/units/communications/Animal%20shelter%20list.pdf. Humane Society is now FULL. Cheyenne Mountain HS shelter can no longer take small animals with evacuees sheltering there. Please refer to the list above for other options.
• Rocky Mountain Health Care Services is offering a shelter option and can take small pets with evacuees. 310 S. 14th Street. 719-641-2747
• Large animal shelter at Penrose Equestrian Center - (719) 520-7773 and at Teller County Fairgrounds in Cripple Creek.
DONATIONS/VOLUNTEERING
Citizens wanting to help can make monetary donations on www.RedCross.org. Monetary donations will stay in this community by designating the local chapter, Pikes Peak. Volunteers can also sign up through redcross.org and will be contacted as needed. United Way cannot currently accept any more volunteer offers in order to leave phone lines open for those needing help. No additional volunteers needed at this time at the Penrose Equestrian Center.
Please DO NOT drop off goods at the fire command post. We do not have the capacity to accept donations there. Please visit www.RedCross.org to donate or volunteer for the Pikes Peak Chapter.
Care & Share (2605 Preamble Pt.) is now accepting donations of non-perishable food items from 7 a.m.-6p.m. Mon – Fri.
Goodwill is managing other donations. Visit www.discovermygoodwill.org for a list of local donation centers.
For non-emergency needs and service referrals, call Pikes Peak United Way at (719) 955-0742. Due to call volume, you may need to leave a message.
MEETINGS
Next media briefing scheduled for XXXXX at Coronado High School.
Community Meetings will be held at both shelter locations (Cheyenne Mountain High School in Colorado Springs and Summit Elementary in Divide on Monday at 7 p.m.
Colorado Springs Informal and Formal City Council meetings on Monday, June 25 and Tuesday, June 26 have been cancelled. A special meeting will take place at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, June 27 for one agenda item: Memorial Hospital.
About Command
Incident is currently under Unified Command with US Forest Service, El Paso County and City of Colorado Springs. Cooperating agencies include: El Paso County Sheriff, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, El Paso County, CSFD, CSPD, Colorado Springs Utilities, Green Mountain Fire Department, Cascade Fire Department, Manitou Springs Fire Department and Colorado State Forest Service.
A Type I Incident Management Team has arrived and transition of command has taken place.
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