El Paso County Wildfires: 10 Buildings Destroyed

WIGWAM, CO -- El Paso County authorities ordered evacuations for residents in the area of a blazing grass fire near I-25 at Mile Marker 117 south of Wigwam. The sheriff's office orderer anyone living up to two miles east of I-25/MM117, south of Hanover Road and north of County Line Road to evacuate and Hanover schools to evacuate.

An evacuation center was set up at Fountain Valley Baptist Church at 500 West Alabama Avenue in Fountain.

Gusty winds up to 75 mph were spreading the flames as firefighters worked to douse the blaze. Ten structures were burned in Hanover, a squad car was completely burned and a fire engine was badly damaged by the blaze.

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

Pueblo County also reported a fire near Hwy 50 Eest at Baxter that burned five houses.

A fire in Midway along I-25 MM 116 and another near Hwy 50E at Baxter have fire resources headed both directions of the county. Please use caution and yield to first response vehicles. Only call 911 if you are reporting unattended flames, visible smoke is likely due to fires
— PuebloCounty Sheriff (@PuebloCountySO) April" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/PuebloCoun... 17, 2018

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