EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. – Multiple fire agencies responded to a wildfire that was reportedly threatening structures Monday afternoon near Hanover -- about 10 miles east of Fountain.
KRDO reported the fire was burning near Milne Road and Squirrel Creek Road.
The El Paso County Sheriff's Office, which was assisting the Hanover Fire Department, said there were evacuations due to the fire. The evacuation point was Hanover School, located at 17050 S Peyton Highway.
The evacuation area included hundreds of homes. The area is as follows:
#MilneFire evacuation area boundaries North: Sanborn Rd.
East: Squirrel Creek east of Elliott Hwy.
South: Hanover Rd.
West: Curtis Rd. pic.twitter.com/3dVYi98rO5— EPCSheriff (@EPCSheriff) February 27, 2017
Schools in the area were also evacuated:
Ellicott Schools doing early release for kids living NORTH of Hwy 94. Kids living SOUTH of Hwy 94 are staying at the school. #MilneFire
— EPCSheriff (@EPCSheriff) February 27, 2017
Evacuation orders were lifted Monday night and residents were allowed to return home. Officials said the fire burned about 7,000 acres.
The fire showed up on satellite and radar images from the National Weather Service.
Wildfire detected in satellite and radar imagery east of Fountain along Squirrel Creek Rd. #cowx pic.twitter.com/PWj4J0huTT
— NWS Pueblo (@NWSPueblo) February 27, 2017
The sheriff’s office said there were several road closures in the area because of the fire. Relative humidity in the area was low Monday and wind was gusting over 10 miles per hour, creating a recipe for high fire danger.
Road Closure - Peyton/Drennan
Road Closure - Henderson/Drennan
Road Closure - Enoch/Harding Farm Ln#MilneFire— EPCSheriff (@EPCSheriff) February 27, 2017
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