At approximately 4:30 AM on October 4, 2025, a deputy with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office observed a fire in the uncovered evidence lot while arriving for duty at the El Paso County Jail. The lot is located on the southern end of the jail campus.
The Colorado Springs Fire Department and Stratmoor Hills Fire Department responded within minutes, along with deputies from both the Detention and Law Enforcement Bureaus. The fire was quickly contained and extinguished. Neither the evidence facility nor the jail sustained structural damage; however, 13 vehicles in the evidence lot were damaged by the fire.
Colorado Springs Fire Department investigators determined the fire originated in one of the vehicles and was electrical in nature. The cause of the fire has been determined to be accidental.
The affected vehicles were being held as evidence in criminal cases. Those cases are in various stages from early prosecution through appeal.
The Sheriff’s Office immediately notified the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office and began identifying the associated cases to ensure all relevant parties were informed.
The thorough investigation and notification process took several weeks to complete, ensuring proper notice was provided to everyone involved. These notifications were completed by the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office and the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.