Firefighters battling brushfire at US Air Force Academy in Colorado
The West Monument Creek Fire is estimated to be 168 acres with 50% containment. The fire started on Sunday west of the Pine Housing within the U.S. Air Force Academy grounds in Colorado Springs.
Aerial video shows grassfire burning at U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado
Drone video from the Colorado Springs Fire Department shows the 150-acre West Monument Creek fire burning on U.S. Air Force Academy grounds in Colorado Springs on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (Video: CSFD)
COLORADO SPRINGS, Co. – U.S. Air Force Academy staff and cadets are on alert after a grassfire started Sunday, fueled by whipping winds on Academy grounds in Colorado.
U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) and U.S. Forest Service crews responded to the blaze around 1 p.m. Sunday.
Air Force Academy officials said the fire was estimated to be 168 acres and started west of the Pine Housing area. The West Monument Creek fire is about 50% contained as of Tuesday.
Air Force officials said there was no significant growth or changes to the West Monument Creek Fire on Monday night. Crews will continue to contain the blaze and address hot sports on Tuesday.
A Fire Weather Warning was in place Sunday and Monday for El Paso County, Colorado, including Colorado Springs, but it was allowed to expire Monday evening.
Relative humidity around 13% and gusty winds between 20 and 30 mph created the conditions that sparked the blaze and allowed it to spread. On Monday, the high temperature reached 59 degrees with west-southwesterly winds frequently gusting over 30 mph.
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"We appreciate the work and coordination with the Colorado Springs Fire Department and the U.S. Forest Service in fighting this fire," 10th Air Base Wing Col. Dan Werner said. "We'll continue to watch the fire through the night and work with our partners to contain and extinguish it to keep the Academy and our people safe."
![A helicopter performs a water drop on the West Monument Creek Fire in Colorado Springs, Colorado on February 26, 2024.]()
Image 1 of 4A helicopter performs a water drop on the West Monument Creek Fire in Colorado Springs, Colorado on February 26, 2024. (Image: U.S. Air Force) ( )
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Image 2 of 4A grassfire burning on U.S. Air Force Academy grounds in Colorado Springs, Colorado on Sunday, February 25, 2024. (Image: USAFA) ( )
![A grassfire burning on U.S. Air Force Academy grounds in Colorado Springs, Colorado on Sunday, February 25, 2024.]()
Image 3 of 4A grassfire burning on U.S. Air Force Academy grounds in Colorado Springs, Colorado on Sunday, February 25, 2024. (Image: USAFA) ( )
![U.S. Air Force fire crews respond to the West Monument Creek Fire in Colorado Springs, Colorado on February 26, 2024.]()
Image 4 of 4U.S. Air Force fire crews respond to the West Monument Creek Fire in Colorado Springs, Colorado on February 26, 2024. (Image: U.S. Air Force) (U.S. Air Force)
When the fire started on Sunday, pre-evacuation notices were given to Pine Valley and Douglass Valley residents. However, no residents were ordered to evacuate.
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The fire was not threatening any structures, and U.S. Air Force Academy crews continued to monitor the blaze.
Two helicopters from Fort Carson assisted with water dumps on the fire on Monday to help with containment.
U.S. Air Force Academy operations continue as scheduled.
The academy said its facility and Visitor Center are closed to the public during the firefight. As of Tuesday, the campus is open to Department of Defense ID cardholders, contractors and District 20 students.