Firefighters reported progress on the Rampart Fire that began burning several miles to the northeast of Woodland Park Friday night.
Fire crews said the fire is 40 percent contained and 6 acres in size Saturday morning.
About 120 firefighters are working to contain the fire, which is burning in rugged areas near Rampart Range Road. Firefighters said there were no firefighting efforts overnight due to firefighting safety and the progress crews made on the fire Friday evening.
Firefighters credited aerial efforts from single-engine air tankers and helicopters to slow the advance of the fire.
Water drops on #RampartFire in progress pic.twitter.com/gWJWHtJRlM
— Cdr. Greg Couch, PIO (@TCSOPIO) July 21, 2018
A Type III Incident Command team took over command of the fire Saturday. Hand crews, Type 3 and 6 Engines, and aircraft will continue to work the area.
Despite progress on the fire lines, evacuation and pre-evacuation orders remain in place in the area. News 5’s Sam Kraemer learned some cabins are under evacuation orders along Forest Roads 941, 943, 944, 945 and 946.
El Paso County deputies said all people living within a 1.75 mile radius of Forest Service Road 312 and Rampart Range Road should be ready to evacuate, as should campers on Rampart Range Road in the area. Forest Service Roads 300 to 320 are also closed until further notice, according to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.
There is no timetable on when those who were evacuated can return.
Smoke from the fire was first spotted just before 5 p.m. Friday evening. There is no word on how the fire started.
The Northeast Teller County Fire Protection District said the fire is burning on the west side of Rampart Range Road between Mt. Herman Road and Beaver Creek Road.
