Residents upset at Fort Carson’s role in wildfire

COLORADO SPRINGS» Anger toward Fort Carson continued to build among southern El Paso County residents a day after some lost their homes to a fire that started on the Army post during a training exercise and had grown to 3,300 acres Saturday.

Hundreds of residents, who had been forced to flee with their pets and livestock as flames spread from the post to the rural Midland Ranch community, were barred Saturday from returning to see if their homes survived as ground and air crews continued to attack the blaze throughout the day.

Fort Carson issued a statement Saturday evening saying the Carson Midland fire was 80 percent contained. Most residents were being allowed home with proof of identification, except for residents of three homes near still-burning tires.

“The Army is supposed to protect the American public, but it for sure doesn’t feel like we’re being protected,” said Samuel Saling, a Midway Ranch resident. “They should have all hands on deck, considering how many troops are stationed there that are trained to deal with this type of situation.”

Saling, who was waiting for updates Saturday morning near the Pikes Peak International Raceway south of Fountain, added that he and some of his neighbors had asked Fort Carson to delay burning this week because of the high fire danger but were “met with silence.”

The frustration spurred the creation of a change.org petition asking Gov. John Hickenlooper, Mayor John Suthers, District 4 El Paso County Commissioner Longinos Gonzalez Jr. and the Fort Carson commander, Maj. Gen. Randy A. George, to not allow live-fire training on days that the National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning.

“It is irresponsible and unsafe for Fort Carson to execute livefire rounds (or other exercises that can cause sparks) when there is a high fire warning/red flag days in the area,” the petition reads.

“We all understand training is necessary, but we ask them to consider options to help prevent future fires.”