Tribune Tri Lakes 6-19-13
June 19, 2013
Tri-Lakes
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A Colorado Community Media Publication
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Tri-Lakes Region, Monument, Gleneagle, Black Forest and Northern El Paso County • Volume 48, Issue 25
Steady progress on Black Forest Fire over weekend Staff Report
Flames lick over a ridge top near Highway 83 and Northgate. Reports say that the fire is less than a quarter mile from Highway 83. Photo by Rob Carrigan
El Paso County Sheriff’s Office continues to do structure and damage assessments. According to Black Forest Fire’s Joint Informantion Center updated on Monday morning, June 17, the fire was 65 percent contained. The fire had updated acrage figures at 14,198 acres, and over 1,100 firefighters still working on the fire. Fire officials were hoping for containment by as early as Thursday, June 20. Evacuations bans were lifted in certain areas and the new evacuation boundaries are as follows:
West Boundary is Hwy 83 (Hwy 83 is OPEN) from Burgess to Walker; East Boundary is Meridian Rd, from Burgess Rd to County Line Road. Meridian Road is CLOSED to the Public but OPEN to residents with proper I.D.; South Boundary is Burgess Rd. - Burgess Rd is CLOSED from HWY 83 to Meridian Road; North boundary is Walker Road from Black Forest Road to Meridian Road; Hodgen Forest Ranch or the area between. Also open: Howells Rd. on the West; Milam Rd. on the East; Burgess Rd. on the South; and Crosslen Ln. and Ford Rd. on the North 83 is OPEN. Walker is CLOSED.
“Great Basin Team 2 assumed responsibility for initial attack (I.A.) support within a 30 mile radius of the Black Forest Fire. The team is being shadowed by the Butler County, OH. All Hazards Type 3 Incident Management team. Thunderstorm activity began to move in from the west and impacted the area. Thunderstorms possessed erratic winds, lightning and moisture. A lightning strike fire was reported in the Black Forest Fire area next to a residence was quickly extinguished by the homeowner,” according to the incident report
> More coverage on Pages 8, 9, 10, 11
D-20 schools in Black Forest still standing Damage to grounds around school, still monitoring situation By Lisa Collacott
l c o l l a c o t t @ o u rc o l o ra donews.com Black Forest is home to two Academy School District 20 elementary schools and the morning after the fire started the schools were still standing. Edith Wolford Elementary School and School in the Woods are still standing, according to D-20 Superintendent Dr. Mark Hatchell. Hatchell and D-20 Chief of Security Brian Grady were able to view the schools the day after the fire. In an email sent to parents Hatchell said there is some fire damage on the grounds of Edith Wolford Elementary School as well as School in the Woods but the buildings appear to be fine. They are still closely monitoring what is happening with the fire. Edith Wolford Elementary School is one of D-20’s
original schools. The school was named for a teacher who taught at the original Black Forest Log School located on Shoup and Black Forest Roads. It is not known if the original school house, which was built in 1922, is still standing. The school closed in 1945 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Edith Wolford Elementary School is located on Black Forest Road, north of Shoup Road and School in the Woods is located on Vollmer Road, east of Black Forest Road. Hatchell said in the email that the district is concerned about the students and staff members of the district that live in Black Forest. “We know that many students and staff members have lost their homes and a large number are currently being evacuated,” Hatchell said. “As we move forward and assess the impact of this natural disaster I know we will have many families and staff who need our help. We are working to come together as a district and put plans in place so that we can assist with those needs.”
Evacuees Janet and Heather Humphrey eat breakfast in the front aisle of the auditorium at Palmer Ridge High School during a packed town hall meeting Saturday morning. Photos by Rob Carrigan
Residents voice frustrations at community meeting Publisher of Black Forest News loses her home but remains dedicated to keeping residents informed By Lisa Collacott
lcollacott@ourcoloradonews.com
Academy School District 20 School in the Woods as it appeared two years ago. The school is in Black Forest located on Vollmer Road, east of Black Forest Road. The school is still standing but the grounds around it have received fire damage. Edith Wolford Elementary School is also still standing but has sustained fire damage to its grounds as well. File photo by Lisa Collacott POSTAL ADDRESS
During a community meeting for Black Forest resident emotions ran high for those seeking information about assistance, the status of their homes and when they would be allowed re-entry. Commissioner Darryl Glenn, whose district includes Black Forest, hosted the meeting to provide information on where residents can go for assistance with their needs. Many residents wanted information on the status of their homes and when they could go see their homes
but he reminded residents that particular information would have to come from the sheriff. Patty Baxter, head of the El Paso County Office of Emergency Management, told residents that Kathy Russell, also from emergency management, would be taking the lead on the re-entry process for residents. Meeting continues on Page 10
Black Forest resident Bonnie Kruse, during a briefing on the progress of the Black Forest Fire in Colorado Springs, Colo., Friday, June 14, 2013. Bonnie’s family lost five homes to the Black Forest Fire.
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