Residents were allowed to return home Thursday afternoon after a wind-driven wildfire burning southeast of Colorado Springs prompted evacuations Wednesday evening.
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office lifted an evacuation order for the Hammer fire at about 2 p.m. for Hammer Road, east to South Peyton Highway and Myers Road, north to Squirrel Creek.
As of Thursday evening, the fire was 80% contained, officials with El Paso County said. No structures have been lost.
Firefighters on Thursday battled high winds and dry air while fighting the fire, which grew to 4,900 acres overnight, Sgt. Kurt Smith with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office said in a Thursday morning briefing.
Initial reports of the Hammer fire around 3:45 p.m. Wednesday estimated the fire at roughly 200 acres, but amid strong gusts, the fire exploded to more than 4,200 acres within hours, prompting evacuations for the unincorporated community of Hanover near Fountain, Smith said.
While overnight aerial crews dropped water on the flames, firefighters on the ground worked to contain the fire throughout the day Thursday, Smith said. About 10 agencies, along with the sheriff’s wildland fire unit, were on scene, focusing on the northern and eastern edges of the fire.
Hanover School District 28 remained closed Thursday due to the fire.
Smith warned that evacuation orders can change at any time, especially due to strong, shifting winds. He encouraged residents to sign up for emergency alerts through the county’s 911 authority.
There is no immediate threat to Fountain, according to the town’s fire chief, Devin Graham. The fire is burning several miles southeast from Fountain and the winds are expected to push flames farther east and northeast.