Forest Fire Believed Intentionally Set
Fire Burning Near Popular Amusement Park
POSTED: 5:06 p.m. MDT May 30, 2002
UPDATED: 8:52 p.m. MDT May 30, 2002
CASCADE, Colo. -- A small forest fire broke into two separate fires and continued to burn Thursday evening between Colorado Springs, Colo., and Woodland Park, Colo., and officials said Thursday night that it was intentionally set.
The original fire that started on Fountain Road (pictured, left) around 3:30 p.m., grew to two acres and was 100 percent contained by 8 p.m. Officials said that portion of the fire was closest to homes but it did not appear that an evacuation would be needed, unless the winds change direction.
The original fire jumped a dirt road starting a second fire that was 4 1/2 acres, 7NEWS reported. The second fire was only 30 percent contained by nightfall, but was expected to be 100 percent contained by Friday morning.
The fire was burning near the popular North Pole amusement park.
Three air tankers and two helicopters were helping battle the blaze Thursday afternoon, aided by 40 Type-2 federal firefighters and additional firefighters from more than a half-dozen departments.
Residents in the areas of Fountain Road and Poplar, north to Fountain Road and Emporia were asked to be prepared to evacuate if needed Friday night. Officials said the alert was only a precaution.
Earlier, sightseers on the Pikes Peak highway were rerouted to an alternate exit because the fire was burning near the highway toll booths.
The El Paso County Sheriff's office said the fire was determined to be human caused and appears to be arson. It was the fourth fire to be intentionally set in the area within the past two weeks, according to officials.
The El Paso County Sheriff's Office asked the public to help solve the crimes before loss of life and structures occur. Anyone with information about who is setting the fires was asked to contact the El Paso County Sheriff's Office at (719) 390-5555.
The original fire that started on Fountain Road (pictured, left) around 3:30 p.m., grew to two acres and was 100 percent contained by 8 p.m. Officials said that portion of the fire was closest to homes but it did not appear that an evacuation would be needed, unless the winds change direction.
The original fire jumped a dirt road starting a second fire that was 4 1/2 acres, 7NEWS reported. The second fire was only 30 percent contained by nightfall, but was expected to be 100 percent contained by Friday morning.
The fire was burning near the popular North Pole amusement park.
Three air tankers and two helicopters were helping battle the blaze Thursday afternoon, aided by 40 Type-2 federal firefighters and additional firefighters from more than a half-dozen departments.
Residents in the areas of Fountain Road and Poplar, north to Fountain Road and Emporia were asked to be prepared to evacuate if needed Friday night. Officials said the alert was only a precaution.
Earlier, sightseers on the Pikes Peak highway were rerouted to an alternate exit because the fire was burning near the highway toll booths.
The El Paso County Sheriff's office said the fire was determined to be human caused and appears to be arson. It was the fourth fire to be intentionally set in the area within the past two weeks, according to officials.
The El Paso County Sheriff's Office asked the public to help solve the crimes before loss of life and structures occur. Anyone with information about who is setting the fires was asked to contact the El Paso County Sheriff's Office at (719) 390-5555.
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