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Emergency declared as wildfire moves closer to Pueblo

The fire forced 1,000 people from their homes early Tuesday afternoon.
Credit: Lena Howland, KOAA

EL PASO COUNTY – The evacuation area for a wildfire that broke out near Interstate 25 south of Colorado Springs Tuesday afternoon and as of that evening has started moving south toward Pueblo has grown to 305 square miles and includes an estimated 370 homes, affecting about 1,000 people according to El Paso County officials.

Dubbed the 117 Fire, the blaze has prompted the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office to issue a pre-evacuation order for the Pueblo Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant and from the El Paso County Line to the 6000 block of Overton Road.

The follow areas are under a mandatory evacuation order:

Can’t see the map? Click here: https://bit.ly/2qFzkrE

These evacuations are expected to last through the night. A shelter has been set up at Fountain Valley Baptist Church for those displaced.

Firefighters from multiple agencies across the state – including Greater Eagle Fire and West Metro – have been dispatched to help battle the 117 Fire.

West Metro Fire tweeted that so far, at least 10 structures have been lost.

There’s no estimate on the acreage of the fire as of Tuesday evening.

Hours after the fire first broke out, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office says they have received a signed disaster declaration – which means the state will take over command of the fire.

El Paso County Sheriff Bill Elder said high winds are making it difficult for the 200 civilian firefighters, 40 plus law enforcement officers and support personnel on the ground to fight the blaze.

However, the forecast calls for lighter winds on Wednesday morning, something that could mean a reprieve for firefighters.

Schools in the Hanover School District will close Wednesday because of the blaze.

Follow the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office for the latest information about the evacuation zone overnight: https://bit.ly/2JVHAN6

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