Colorado Springs Waldo Canyon Fire Jumps Perimeter Lines, Extreme Spread Rates Reported

The Waldo Canyon Fire, a stubborn blaze burning near Colorado Springs, is exhibiting extreme fire behavior with extreme rates of spread, officials said on Wednesday in an incident report.

The towering blaze has forced more than 32,000 people out of their homes and has already destroyed an unknown number of structures. The blaze is now threatening the U.S. Air Force Academy, which is currently partially closed.

The Waldo Canyon Fire is only 5 percent contained and authorities said there is extreme potential for growth. Temperature is said to be 93 degrees and humidity is at 8 percent. The continuous hot weather and dry conditions are providing perfect fuel for the fire to grow.

The population in Colorado Springs is more than 400,000. More than 6,200 acres have already been destroyed and there are 764 personnel working to get the upper hand on this massive fire.

It was like looking at the worst movie set you could imagine, Gov. John Hickenlooper told the media after he flew over late Tuesday. It's almost surreal. You look at that, and it's like nothing I've seen before.

The cause of the wildfire, which is located in the Pike National Forest in El Paso County, is still under investigation.

An incident report stated that the fire began at noon on Saturday. By Tuesday, it briefly closed Interstate 25, which runs through Colorado Springs, to southbound traffic. That route is now open, but westbound travel off the I-25 is limited because of fire operations, officials said.

Firefighters now plan to keep their hold on Rampart Ridge Road so as to prevent the fire from moving northeast and east. They also intend to continue point protection in Cedar Heights and structure protection along the west side of Colorado Springs.

High Park Fire

The High Park Fire, which started because of lightening on private land near Fort Collins, still kept firefighters busy on Tuesday. It is now 65 percent contained and cost of the fire is estimated at $33.1 million. That fire is expected to be contained by July 30, according to an incident report.

Other Western Wildfires

The National Interagency Fire Centre reported Tuesday that large fire activities increased earlier this week with 15 large fires reported. Four of those fires were in Montana, three in Alaska and Alabama, and one in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

More than 576,000 acres have been burned by these fires, the center reported.

Here's a roundup of the state of the western wildfires, according to the fire center:

Alabama

Sylvester Fire in National Forests in Alabama is 100 acres and at 50 percent containment. It is four miles southeast of Waldo. Structures are threatened.

Blue Monday II Fire in National Forests of Alabama is now 105 acres and at 50 percent containment. This fire is five miles southwest of Bradley and threatens residences.

Alaska

Allakaket Fire (Tanana Zone, Bureau of Land Management): Has burned 2,709 acres and is 70 percent contained. This fire is 97 miles northwest of Tanana and threatens structures also.

Bear Creek 4 Fire (Fairbanks Area, Department of Forestry): Burned 8,200 acres and is only 1 percent contained. This fire is located 14 miles south of Clear Air Force Base. Numerous structures are threatened.

Bear Creek 3 Fire (Fairbanks Area, Department of Forestry): Destroyed 300 acres and only 5 percent contained. It is 33 miles southwest of Nenana.

Big Band Fire (Upper Yukon Zone, Bureau of Land Management): Charred 700 acres and is 39 miles north of Fairbanks.

Dry Creek Fire (Military Zone, Bureau of Land Management): Blackened 360 acres and is located 15 miles south of Fairbanks.

Midnight Creek Fire (Upper Yukon Zone, Bureau of Land Management): Spanned 2,000 acres. This fire is 65 miles north of Eagle.

Arkansas

Shelterwood 149 Fire (Ouachita National Forest): 684 acres burned. It is 80 percent contained. This fire is three miles north of Sims.

Arizona

Keystone Peak Fire (Tucson District, Department of Forestry): Engulfed 300 acres and is at five percent containment. This fire is 25 miles southwest of Tucson.

Poco Fire (Tonto National Forest): 11,950 acres burned. There is 65 percent containment. This fire is located one mile northeast of Young.

California

Hill Fire (Los Padres National Forest): Burned 689 acres and is 78 percent contained. This fire is 10 miles southeast of Frazier Park.

Colorado

Waldo Canyon Fire (Pike and San Isabel National Forest): Destroyed 6,200 acres. This fire is at five percent containment and is three miles west of Colorado Springs. It now threatens several communities, municipal watersheds and the U.S. Air Force Academy.

High Park Fire (Larimer County): More than 83,000 acres destroyed. It is 65 percent contained. This fire is located 15 miles west of Fort Collins and threatens subdivisions, a communications tower and recreation sites. Evacuations are in effect.

Weber Fire (San Juan District, Bureau of Land Management): 8,300 acres burned; 10 percent contained. This fire is six miles south of Mancos and numerous structures and communication towers are threatened. Evacuations are in effect.

State Line Fire (La Plata County): 350 acres blackened. There is 60 percent containment. This fire is 17 miles southwest of Ignacio.

Treasure Fire (Pike and San Isabel National Forest): Charred 320 acres and is 10 percent contained. This fire is five miles northeast of Leadville. This fire also threatens structures.

Little Sand Fire (San Juan National Forest): 22,010 acres swallowed up. This fire is 13 miles northwest of Pagosa Springs. Structures are threatened and evacuations are in effect.

Last Chance Fire (Washington County): 1,500 acres destroyed and there is zero percent containment. This fire is one mile southeast of Last Chance. Structures and a communication site are threatened.

Montana

Pony Fire (Beaverhead/Deerlodge National Forest): 3,000 acres destroyed. Fire is zero percent contained. It is located 10 miles west of Pony. Evacuations are in effect.

Corral Fire (Central Land Office, Department of Natural Resources): This fire has burned 1,200 acres and is zero percent contained. This fire is two miles north of Helena. Evacuations are in effect.

Antelope Lane Fire (Beaverhead/Deerlodge National Forest): It has burned 686 acres and is zero percent contained. This fire is 10 miles west of Whitehall.

Bear Trap 2 Firte (Beaverhead/Deerlodge National Forest): 500 acres have burned and there is zero percent containment. This fire is 20 miles northeast of Ennis.

Nevada

North Schell Fire (Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest): 12,047 acres have burned and this fire is 85 percent contained. This fire is 20 miles northeast of McGill. Structures are threatened and road closures are in effect.

New Mexico

Little Bear Fire (Lincoln National Forest) has burned 44,330 acres and it is 90 percent contained. This fire is five miles northwest of Ruidoso.

Sawmill Fire (Cibola National Forest) destroyed 135 acres and is zero percent contained. This fire is 13 miles south of Magdalena. Structures are threatened.

Romero Fire (Bernallio District, New Mexico Department of Forestry) destroyed 360 acres and is at 80 percent containment. This fire is four miles southwest of Bernalillo.

Whitewater-Baldy (Gila National Forest): 297,845 acres at 87 percent contained. This fire is 15 miles east of Glenwood.

North Carolina

Dad Fire (National Forests in North Carolina): 21,331 acres burned and its 80 percent contained. This fire is 10 miles south of New Bern.

Utah

Wood Hollow Fire (Central Area, Utah Department of Forestry): 38,929 acres burned and is 15 percent contained. This fire is one miles south of Fountain Green. Numerous structures are threatened. Evacuations and road closures are in effect.

Church Camp Fire (Northern Area, Department of Forestry): 1,000 acres burned and is = zero percent contained. This fire is 22 miles south of Duchesne. Structures and major transmission lines are threatened. Evacuations are in effect.

Wyoming

Fontenelle Fire (Bridger-Teton National Forest): Burned 450 acres and is zero percent contained. This fire is 22 miles northwest of Labarge. Structures are threatened.

Russels Camp Fire (Converse County): Blackened 5,939 acres and is only 35 percent contained. This fire is 30 miles south of Glenrock. Structures are threatened.