West Monument Creek Fire
West Monument Creek Fire
Photo Courtesy of the Colorado Springs Fire Department
On February 25th, 2024 at 13:17 El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center dispatched Air Force Academy Fire & Emergency Services to a reported brush fire west of the Pine Valley housing area and on the eastern border of Pikes National Forest. As responders arrived in the area, they observed a large smoke column and advised in coming units it was a wind driven fire with rapid rates of spread to the east. Battalion 2102 established incident command and requested a strike team of type engines from Colorado Springs Fire Department that was requested. While the strike team was being mobilized a second-strike team was requested from other county agencies, assigning Black Forest, Cimarron Hills, CSU-Catamount Wildland, El Paso County Wildland Fire Management, Manitou Springs, and Monument to the incident. While crews dug line around the fire, a 911 call was received from hikers trapped by the fire. The hikers were rescued shortly after their call came into El Paso County 911. To allow local fire departments/district to respond to routine calls in their areas, Southern Colorado Interagency Wildland Fire Team was called in to cross staff units to respond to the incident. Fire crews remained on scene throughout the day and night digging line and extinguishing flare ups. As the fire progressed into its’ second day of operation, February 26th, 2024 federal agencies relieved local department from initial attack continuing to create a line around the fire. To aid firefighters on the ground, helicopters from nearby Fort Carson Army Post ran water drops throughout the day. Currently the fire is at 168 acres with 75% containment as of February 27th, 2024. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
Units on Scene:
Air Force Academy Fire & Emergency Services: Chief 2100, Chief 2101, Battalion 2102, Engine 2111, Engine 2112, Rescue 2170, Brush 2141, Brush 2142, Brush 2143 & Tender 2160
Black Forest Fire Protection District: Chief 701 & Brush 741
Colorado Springs Fire Department: Battalion Chief 1, Battalion Chief 4, Special Operations 52, Brush 3, Brush 12, Wildland 9, Wildland 4, Brush 15, Brush 20 & Brush 22
Cimarron Hills Fire Department: Chief 1302 & Brush 1340.
Colorado Springs Utilities – Catamount Wildland Fire Team: Chief 2500, Brush 2541, Brush 2542, Brush 2543 & Engine 2511
El Paso County Wildland Fire Management: Command 3100 & Brush 3141
Manitou Springs Fire Department: Brush 1041
Monument Fire Protection District: Brush Engine 541 & Brush 542
Stratmoor Hills Fire Protection District: Brush 441.
Security Fire Department: Brush 143.
Southern Colorado Interagency Wildland Fire Team: Engine 418 (Stratmoor Hills), Brush 3541 (Hanover), and Squad 151 (Security).
Fort Carson Army Post: UH-60 Blackhawk (helicopter) and two CH-47 Chinooks for water drops.
US Forest Service, Air Force Security Police Department, Colorado Springs Police Department & El Paso County Sheriff’s Office
Photo Courtesy of SOCO Interagency Wildland Fire Team
Photo Courtesy of SOCO Interagency Wildland Fire Team
Photo Courtesy of SOCO Interagency Wildland Fire Team
Photo Courtesy of SOCO Interagency Wildland Fire Team
Photo Courtesy of SOCO Interagency Wildland Fire Team
Photo Courtesy of SOCO Interagency Wildland Fire Team
Photo Courtesy of SOCO Interagency Wildland Fire Team
Photo Courtesy of SOCO Interagency Wildland Fire Team
Photos Courtesy of SOCO Interagency Wildland Fire Team
Photo Courtesy of SOCO Interagency Wildland Fire Team
Photo Courtesy of Stratmoor Hills Fire Protection District
Photo Courtesy of Stratmoor Hills Fire Protection District
Photo Courtesy of SOCO Interagency Wildland Fire Team
Photo Courtesy of Stratmoor Hills Fire Protection District
Photo Courtesy of Stratmoor Hills Fire Protection District
Photo Courtesy of Stratmoor Hills Fire Protection District
Photo Courtesy of SOCO Interagency Wildland Fire Team