Fire comes close to houses just east of Springs

A fast-moving wildfire came within feet of several houses Monday afternoon just east of Colorado Springs, destroying a shed and a fence and singeing plenty of nerves.

The fire broke out just before 1 p.m. in a field behind Allens Park Drive, near Constitution Avenue and Marksheffel Road.

The field was dry from recent warm weather, and steady winds of 14 mph blew the fire into the backyard fences lining the subdivision.

"The wind was definitely blowing towards the structures," said Jeff Petersma, deputy chief of the Falcon Fire Protection District.

"I just saw smoke and fire, and I said, ‘Oh my gosh, I think it's in my back yard,'" resident Jodi Price said. She went outside to fight it with a garden hose - until she saw just how much smoke there was. Then she pulled her car out of the garage and called for help.

Chet Kramer took his lawnmower and photo albums, which were being stored while work was done on his house, out of his shed as the flames whipped closer.

"All our family valuables were sitting in the shed," Kramer said later, hosing down his fence for protection from smoldering embers. The shed was saved.

Ken Normandy's shed wasn't, but considering how close the fire came to the houses, he said it could have been much worse.

"It's dirt bikes and stuff like that. Everything can be replaced," Normandy said. "None of the neighbors got it, so that's a good thing."

Petersma credited a quick response by firefighters and the fact that the flames hit green, watered lawns after burning the fences.

The fire scorched 1.4 acres. The cause is under investigation.

CONTACT THE WRITER: 476-1605 or scott.rappold@gazette.com