FORT CARSON, Colo. –
A wildfire that destroyed at least two homes in southern Colorado was sparked by an Army aviation training exercise that used live ammunition, the military said Monday.
The fire started on Fort Carson amid dry, windy weather on March 16 and spread to private land, charring 5 square miles (13 square kilometers) before it was contained. It prompted evacuations of residents and livestock, but no injuries were reported.
The National Weather Service had issued a fire warning that day because of the conditions.
The Army was "mitigating risk and altering training" before the blaze and would continue to do so when fire danger is high, the post's commander, Maj. Gen. Randy A. George, said in a written statement. He said Fort Carson's regulations, as well as orders for training missions, outline steps to reduce the chances of flames.
The statement did not give details or explain why Fort Carson waited 10 days to acknowledge that the exercise used live ammunition. A post spokeswoman didn't immediately respond to an email seeking clarification.
Some residents who live near Fort Carson criticized commanders for conducting the exercise despite the fire danger.
"The Army is supposed to protect the American public, but it for sure doesn't feel like we're being protected," said Samuel Saling, whose home was one of about 250 evacuated during the blaze.
"They should have all hands on deck, considering how many troops are stationed there that are trained to deal with this type of situation," he told the Colorado Springs Gazette.
The post commander said the Army needs to balance its training needs with the safety of its neighbors. Fort Carson previously said the March 16 training exercise was preparing soldiers for deployment.
The Army said residents could submit claims for reimbursement for property damage to Fort Carson.
The fire also ignited old tires that were fashioned into a fence on private land. Burning tires can release hazardous smoke, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was awaiting the results of tests on the tire debris to see if it needed to be taken to a hazardous waste dump.
The fire started on Fort Carson amid dry, windy weather on March 16 and spread to private land, charring 5 square miles (13 square kilometers) before it was contained. It prompted evacuations of residents and livestock, but no injuries were reported.
The National Weather Service had issued a fire warning that day because of the conditions.
The Army was "mitigating risk and altering training" before the blaze and would continue to do so when fire danger is high, the post's commander, Maj. Gen. Randy A. George, said in a written statement. He said Fort Carson's regulations, as well as orders for training missions, outline steps to reduce the chances of flames.
The statement did not give details or explain why Fort Carson waited 10 days to acknowledge that the exercise used live ammunition. A post spokeswoman didn't immediately respond to an email seeking clarification.
Some residents who live near Fort Carson criticized commanders for conducting the exercise despite the fire danger.
"The Army is supposed to protect the American public, but it for sure doesn't feel like we're being protected," said Samuel Saling, whose home was one of about 250 evacuated during the blaze.
"They should have all hands on deck, considering how many troops are stationed there that are trained to deal with this type of situation," he told the Colorado Springs Gazette.
The post commander said the Army needs to balance its training needs with the safety of its neighbors. Fort Carson previously said the March 16 training exercise was preparing soldiers for deployment.
The Army said residents could submit claims for reimbursement for property damage to Fort Carson.
The fire also ignited old tires that were fashioned into a fence on private land. Burning tires can release hazardous smoke, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was awaiting the results of tests on the tire debris to see if it needed to be taken to a hazardous waste dump.
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Army mum on whether live rounds were in use at Fort Carson when fire began
Associated Press
March 20, 2018
FORT CARSON, Colo. (AP) — The Army remained silent Monday on whether live ammunition was in use during a training exercise at Fort Carson three days ago, the same day a fire started on the post, spread to private land and destroyed three homes.
Fort Carson spokeswoman Brandy Gill said she did not yet have any information on the training.
Investigators have not determined the cause of the fire, or whether it was related to the training.
The fire started amid dry, windy weather and scorched five square miles (13 square kilometers).
Gill said she had no information on whether Fort Carson has restrictions on training on days like Friday, when wildfire danger is high, or whether training guidelines were under review.
Col. Ron Fitch, Fort Carson's garrison commander, said at a news conference Friday the training had to go on despite the conditions because the soldiers were preparing to deploy overseas.
"We have to train in order to prepare those soldiers," he said.
The training involved infantry and helicopters, Fitch said.
The fire was contained by Monday, although some trash piles and old tires continued to burn.
At least 250 homes were evacuated during the fire. Most residents have been told they can return, but five homes remained under evacuation orders Monday because they were near the remaining fires, El Paso County sheriff's spokeswoman Natalie Sosa said.
Sosa said firefighting crews discovered an illegal marijuana growing operation in the area Saturday.
Officers got a search warrant and seized more than 100 plants. No arrests have been made, she said.