UPDATE | Friday, 4:30 p.m. — The Alturas Fire is now 100% contained, the El Paso County Sheriff's Office announced Friday afternoon.
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EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. — A fire burning in El Paso County has burned 182 acres and is 15% contained as of 10 p.m. Thursday, according to the Colorado Springs Fire Department.
Residents of Security-Widefield — just southwest of the Colorado Springs Airport — who live south of Milton E. Proby Parkway, east of Hancock Expressway, north of Bradley Road and Alturas Drive, and west of Peak Innovation Parkway were affected by an evacuation notice. The notice was lifted Thursday evening.
About 50 homes were evacuated, but no structures were lost in the fire. CSFD says the fire came within feet of some structures and even burned some retaining walls near the Amazon facilities, according to KOAA.
Powers Boulevard between Milton Proby Parkway and Grinnell Boulevard remains closed until further notice.
The fire, which has been called the Alturas Fire, is burning near the Pikes Peak Christian Church off Bradley Road. It began in the 5000 block of Alturas Drive.
According to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, someone called deputies due to a suspicious vehicle. A deputy drove out over some grassland to investigate when the car got stuck. According to the sheriff's office, the catalytic converter ignited the fire.
The deputy immediately told crews about the fire and was not injured, the sheriff's office said.
The Colorado Springs Airport had told travelers inside to shelter in place, but lifted that order just before 6:30 p.m. The airport said it would be taken travelers without a personal vehicle by shuttle bus to a 7-Eleven at Astrozon and Powers.
At this time the shelter in place has been lifted at the airport. If travelers have vehicles parked at the airport they are free to leave. There will be shuttle busses on the lower level to take travelers off airport for those who need to be picked up.
— Colorado Springs Airport (@COSAirport) May 13, 2022
An evacuation center was set up at the Calvary Chapel Eastside and has been closed.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
