Colorado Springs, Waldo Canyon Fire [Latest News]

About 450 people are working on the fire burning near Waldo Canyon off of Highway 24 just to the west of Colorado Springs, and is at zero percent containment. The fire is at 3,600 acres and smoke could be seen from the Denver area over the weekend.

Sunday afternoon officials said the fire had not crossed Highway 24. They said resources include three heavy air tankers, four single-engine air tankers and at least three helicopters.

Some El Paso County residents were allowed to return home Sunday after approximately 11,000 people were evacuated earlier in the weekend.

Sunday afternoon officials said the fire was burning towards Cedar Heights, Highway 24 and the Cascade area.

Mandatory evacuation orders were issued Sunday for Green Mountain Falls, Chipita Park and Cascade.

Garden of the Gods Park and Garden of the Gods Visitor Center were closed Saturday.

Roads going into Manitou Springs are closed. Pikes Peak Highway is closed. Highway 24 is closed west of Colorado Springs from westbound 31st Street and eastbound at mile marker 288 near Mtn Glen Court.

According to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, Sunday afternoon the Colorado Springs Police Department closed Cheyenne Canon Park and High Drive.

Saturday the Cedar Heights subdivision and Mountain Shadows south of Chuck Wagon were under mandatory evacuation. The evacuation boundaries include Rampart Range Road and everything west of 30th and Centennial, from Gateway Road, north to Chuck Wagon.

Two hundred people from Glen Eyrie Conference Center were evacuated to the Woodmen Valley Chapel on Saturday.

The Red Cross opened a shelter for evacuees at Cheyenne Mountain High School, located at 1200 Cresta Road. Another shelter is located at Woodland Park High School at 151 N Baldwin St.

Small animals needing shelter can be taken to the Pikes Peak Humane Society at 610 Abbott Lane in Colorado Springs, or Bear Creek Veterinary Care at 960 Pico Point.

Large animals needing shelter can be taken to the Penrose Equestrian Center, located at 1045 W. Rio Grande Street in Colorado Springs.

The Red Cross is accepting monetary donations for those affected by the fire.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

For more info and fire resources: