On Tuesday, November 24, 2015 at approximately 10:30 am, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office received a call regarding a grass fire near Fossinger Road in Rush, Colorado.  Due to windy conditions, the fire spread rapidly and a coordinated response was initiated by El Paso County's Deputy Fire Warden.  Numerous departments from surrounding jurisdictions responded with firefighters, emergency medical personnel, traffic patrol and animal welfare units. 

Thirty to forty households were voluntarily evacuated from the area.  After some additional clean up by fire personnel, those residents will be able to return home later this evening.  Crews will continue to monitor for hot spots throughout the night into tomorrow.  The fire consumed a few hundred acres bordered by Fossinger Road on the north, Boone Road on the east, Yoder Road on the west and Truckton Road on the south.  The fire destroyed some outbuildings and damaged a single home, though no residences were destroyed.  Three people were treated on site for minor smoke inhalation, but all three declined transport to the hospital.  At approximately 2:30 pm, the fire was deemed to be contained.  Updates will come from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office as they become available.

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MR 15-094