THIS STORY IS OUTDATED. CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST ON EVACUATION ORDERS ISSUED IN COLORADO SPRINGS ON MAY 12, 2022.
Updated: April 23, 2022 8:30 a.m.
The National Weather Service says high winds and fire danger continue Saturday, even as temperatures are expected to be lower. Though not as widespread on Friday, much of southern Colorado remains under a red flag warning. Fire danger remains high throughout the region.
El Paso County Fire
Evacuations in eastern El Paso County in the area of Peyton Highway to Highway 24 were lifted less than an hour after they went in place.
Florissant Fire/ Teller County
Evacuations of Colorado Mountain Estates in Teller County were lifted around 8:30 p.m.
Otero County on U.S. Forest Service land:
The fire on U.S. Forest Service land in Otero County was contained by 3 p.m. Friday after burning more than 5 acres. Forest Service and county resources had responded.
Our original story follows below.
On a day forecast to have extreme fire danger across the eastern half of Colorado, at least four fires broke out in southern Colorado on Friday.
The El Paso County Sheriff's Office evacuated people in Peyton Friday around 7 p.m. due to a fire on Highway 24.
In Teller County, the sheriff's office evacuated residents from the Colorado Mountain Estates near Florissant, west of Woodland Park, due to a wildfire burning in the area around 6 p.m. Friday.
Earlier in the day, a small, 2-acre fire broke out on U.S. Forest Service land in Otero County, and another north of Lamar, on the Eastern Plains,
In Colorado Springs, the Silver Charm fire triggered mandatory evacuation orders for 500 homes in The Farm subdivision near Interstate 25 and Interquest Parkway. The fire was first reported around noon.
The Colorado Springs Fire Department said the fire was caused by "illegal hot work" during burn restrictions, likely welding.
The grass fire sparked around 12:30 p.m. About 120 firefighters worked to contain the blaze, which did not destroy any homes or buildings.
By around 2 p.m., the Colorado Springs Fire Department said the fire was under control. Evacuations were lifted by 4 p.m.
Current estimates put the fire at 17 acres. At last update it was 75 percent contained.
The National Weather Service in Pueblo said dry conditions and winds gusting to 60-70 mph are expected throughout much of southern Colorado, fueling volatile fire weather conditions.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
