Waldo Canyon Fire closes Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak Highway

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. – Thousands of residents west of Colorado Springs remained evacuated Monday as the Waldo Canyon Fire continued to burn out of control.

The 4,500-acre fire erupted around noon Saturday in rough, steep terrain in the Pike National Forest.

Hwy 24 is closed west of Colorado Springs, forcing the closure of popular tourist attractions including Garden of the Gods and the Pikes Peak Highway.

Over 450 firefighters are battling the blaze with the aid of numerous firefighting aircraft, including a C-130 tanker which arrived Monday afternoon.

Containment was five-percent.

C-130 military air tanker at Petersen AFB, Colo. June 25, 2012. Photo: Michael Abeyta

“This is probably the greatest natural threat we have ever seen in this community in the past 30 to 40 years,” El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa said.

No homes have been lost to-date.

The shelter that was initial set up at Woodland Park High School Saturday has been moved to Summit Elementary School in Divide, Colo.

There is also an evacuation center at Cheyenne Mountain High School.

View official Waldo Canyon Fire updates on InciWeb