250 Homes Evacuated For New Colorado Wildfire

FOUNTAIN, Colo. (CBS4) - For the second straight day, a wildfire broke out south of Colorado Springs and forced people to evacuate.

About 250 homes were evacuated in an area that includes part of northern Pueblo County and part of southern El Paso County, south of Fort Carson.  Several building have burned but there is no estimate on how many homes have been lost.

Areas that have been evacuated include the community of Midway, north to Donner Pass View, south to County Line Road, east to Interstate 25, and west to Fort Carson Route 1.

So far, there are no reports of injuries.

The fire, which is being called the Carson Midway Fire, broke out late Friday morning north of Fountain and south of the Army base.

As of Friday evening, the fire was believed to be about 2,100 acres in size. Officials said the burn area is very large because shifting winds pushed the fire in "a multitude of different ways."

There is no estimate on containment but the El Paso County sheriff  said they were optimistic they would be able get the fire out by midnight.

"Fort Carson rotary aviation assets are working with Bambi Buckets to assist fire fighters on the ground. Additional fixed-wing air assets have been requested and are on scene," officials said in a statement released shortly before 9 p.m. Friday.

Officials with Fort Carson said soldiers doing training exercises sparked the fire.

At a news conference Friday evening, Fort Carson officials said the Carson Midway Fire had merged with a flareup of the Hanover Fire from Thursday.

It's unclear which of the fires destroyed the buildings.

The El Paso County Sheriff's office set up an evacuation center at Fountain Valley Baptist Church, located at 500 west Alabama Avenue in Fountain.

Owners of large animals who have been ordered to evacuate were told they can bring their large animals to the Colorado State Fairgrounds in Pueblo.

The Land of Oz at 1299 Jordan Road in Fountain and Pueblo Animal Services at 4600 Eagleridge Boulevard are taking small animals.

Wildfire Resources

- Visit CBSDenver.com's Living With Wildfire section.

Wildfire Photo Galleries

- See images from the most destructive wildfires (Black Forest, Waldo Canyon, High Park and Fourmile), the deadliest (Storm King) and largest wildfire (Hayman) in Colorado history.