24 Fire Grows to Over 7,400 Acres Along Highway 115 Near Penrose

A malfunctioning vehicle parked along Colorado Highway 115 sparked the 24 Fire, with nearby grass igniting and the blaze exploding from there, burning through some of the most rugged terrain between Colorado Springs and Penrose and forcing dozens of families from their homes.

Just over a week after the fire broke out near mile marker 24 along Highway 115, Fort Carson officials announced Thursday morning that the wildfire reached 61 percent containment, up from 44 percent the day before. The fire stands at 7,385 acres as of midday Thursday.

The containment progress came after a harrowing stretch of growth. Fort Carson announced late Sunday morning that the 24 Fire had grown to just under 4,600 acres. By Monday morning, March 23, that figure had jumped to 7,385 acres, with crews reporting 0 percent containment. Fort Carson officials confirmed Sunday evening that fire crews were successfully able to tie in all control lines, boxing in the fire, with control lines remaining strong as of Monday morning. The Colorado Office of Emergency Management noted the acreage increased to nearly 7,400 acres at 1 a.m. due to back-burning operations.

The 24 Fire's rapid growth along Highway 115 was driven by a combination of backburn operations and fire activity, with backburning being a technique in which crews deliberately set fires along firebreaks in order to reduce potential fuel for the wildfire, slowing or preventing the spread of flames. Fort Carson officials made keeping the fire on the east side of the road their central priority. Crews worked to keep the fire on the east side of the road to protect homes on the west side. Firefighters battling the flames also faced challenging terrain, as the fire was burning along cliffs on a narrow section along the highway, with spot fires dropping to the canyon below.

At its peak deployment, about 240 firefighters were assigned to the fire to reach 30 percent containment as of Tuesday evening, officials said during a town hall in Penrose. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, the response drew 170 personnel, 16 fire engines, 5 helicopters, and 3 fixed-wing aircraft from agencies across the region, including local departments from Black Forest, Falcon, Fountain, Colorado Springs, Hanover, Security, Stratmoor Hills, and others, along with the U.S. Forest Service and Colorado Springs Utilities.

The fire was believed to be "accidental," caused by a vehicle malfunction, Fort Carson Assistant Fire Chief Peter Wolf said during the town hall meeting. The fire prompted evacuations for about 50 to 55 homes located within two miles around County Road F45 and State Highway 115. Evacuations were lifted Monday afternoon for residents who had been ordered to leave, the Fremont County Sheriff's Office said. The El Paso County Sheriff's Office also lifted the pre-evacuation warning for the area of Highway 115 and Sandy Creek Ranch Heights.

One family on Bowie Road told KRDO they were forced to leave their home and spent the intervening days staying with friends, "home hopping" as they waited for updates. Their grandparents, living next door, were placed under the same mandatory evacuation orders.

An evacuation center was set up at Pathfinder Park in Florence, where residents needing assistance, including support for pets and livestock, were encouraged to speak with a Red Cross or Community Animal Response Team (CART) representative. The livestock shelter at Pathfinder Park was scheduled to close at noon Tuesday; anyone who needed more time to retrieve their animals was asked to call 719-251-0245.

Highway 115 was expected to remain closed at least through Friday, with conditions reevaluated daily. Thorough assessments are being conducted with emergency service agencies to prepare the reopening of Highway 115. Commuters to the army base were encouraged to avoid using Gate 6 to limit traffic around the road closure at mile marker 39.

Record-breaking heat complicated Thursday's containment efforts, with Pueblo hitting 90 degrees, breaking a record set in 2004, and Colorado Springs reaching 83 degrees, breaking a 2012 record. Crews Thursday focused on mopping up and monitoring for hot spots, especially along Highway 115, with smoke expected to remain visible due to burning within the interior of contained areas.

Residents with questions can reach the Emergency Operations Center hotline at 719-276-7421.