A grass fire between the Colorado Springs Airport and Schriever Space Force Base has prompted mandatory evacuation orders Thursday.
The fire is reported to have started about 1 p.m., according to the Colorado Springs Fire Department.
The Fire Department posted on social media about the grass fire, located near the intersection of South Meridian Road and Drennan Road.
By 1:41 p.m. the fire had triggered a mandatory immediate evacuation of residents along Gusty Bluffs Point and Meridian Road, north to Colorado 94 and Franceville Coal Mine Road, and east to the border of the Schriever Space Force Base.
The evacuation order zone for Gusty Bluffs point and Meridian Road north to Highway 94 and Franceville Coal Mine, and to the East border of Schriever Space Force Base in Ellicott due to a wildland fire near Gusty Bluffs point and South Meridian road. As of 1:41 p.m. on March 13, everyone in this area is ordered to evacuate immediately.
Google Maps
Additional evacuation orders were given for everyone along Franceville Coal Mine Road north to David Road and east to South Peyton Highway.
The fire has also caused Highway 94 to closed from Marksheffel to Blaney roads as of 3:20 p.m.
Residents along along Franceville Coal Mine Road north to David Road and east to S. Peyton Highway have been ordered to evacuate immediately for a grass fire in the area.
Courtesy of Peak Alerts
Unconfirmed scanner information placed the fire originating in the 4100 block of Hammer Ranch Road, to the east of Meridian.
Smoke is visible in the area, and the fire does not yet have an estimated size, according to Colorado Springs firefighters.
The fire is located in between the Colorado Springs Airport and Schriever Space Force Base.
El Paso County and other parts of southeastern Colorado are under a red flag warning because of high fire danger, according to the National Weather Service in Pueblo. Westerly winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 65 mph are expected. The forecast high Thursday for Colorado Springs is 65 degrees, more than 10 degrees above average, according to Gazette news partner KOAA and the National Weather Service.
This story will be updated.
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