Wildfire Rages In El Paso, Pueblo Counties

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO -- The El Paso and Pueblo County Sheriff's Offices said the wildfire that started near mile-marker 117 on I-25 south of Wigwam is still raging, especially in the northeast and southeast corners. El Paso County Sheriff Bill Elder announced as of Wednesday morning, 40,892 acres had burned. Two firefighters received medical treatment for smoke inhalation.

Three heavy tanker airplanes will be spreading fire retardant on flames in the open land to the northeast of the fire fronts, Sheriff Bill Elder said in an afternoon press conference. Five helicopters from Fort Carson are also dumping water and flame retardants on patches of fire.

Pre evacuation orders in Pueblo County were issued for the area around the Pueblo Chemical Depot.

On Tuesday, 10 buildings were destroyed by the fire, and some livestock were injured. Thirteen more homes burned down Wednesday, making the total homes lost 23. Seven of those homes were vacant, a tweet from the sheriff's office said. Residents were evacuated from homes and schools in Hanover sent students home.

El Paso County evacuated 305 square miles with an estimated 370 homes and 1,000 people. An evacuation center was set up at Fountain Valley Baptist Church at 500 West Alabama Avenue in Fountain. But some evacuees returned home. The El Paso sheriff's office warned that electric lines were still live in the area and residents should stay away if possible.

The El Paso Sheriff's office on Tuesday placed the area on Stage 2 fire restrictions, which prohibit any outdoor burning or smoking.

Wednesday morning the area was charred as far as the eye could see. Elder said matted wild grasses harbor hidden embers underneath that can reignite.

"These fires can creep up to the house without being seen. That's how we lost two houses this morning," Elder said.

People who evacuated their livestock or pets to the Norris Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs now need to evacuate them again, the sheriff's office tweeted. If evacuees need assistance with domesticated pets or livestock today, please call HSPPR dispatch at 719-302-8798.

Image via Patch.com