Red Cross, and Care and Share, hand out supplies at the elementary school in Midway
Update: 10:00 A.M. Sunday, March 17, 2018: Residents were allowed back into their homes Saturday evening and at a community breakfast this morning everyone seemed in good spirits. Three homes were lost in the fire and there are still concerns about a tire-wall fire that is smoldering on the southwest edge of the community. Three homes were not allowed to return due to the potential for toxic fumes from the burning tires.
Red Cross handed out cleanup supplies to the residents as they returned Saturday evening and continued to provide clean up supplies and water this morning. Pikes Peak Care and Share was at the elementary school in Midway providing food and other useful items.
The midway community is a close knit group and at the breakfast they congratulated each other, fire fighters and emergency service personnel for the support they received since Friday.
Red Cross served 45 meals at the Fountain Valley Baptist Church shelter Saturday and there were over 20 overnight stays.
The Red Cross will provide additional support today with caseworkers available at the Southeastern Colorado Chapter office, 1040 S. 8th St in Colorado Springs until 5 P.M.
This will be the last update for this event unless circumstances arise that require additional updates.
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UPDATE 11:00 A.M., Saturday, March 17, 2018 – As evacuations remain in effect due to the Carson Midway fire on the border of El Paso and Pueblo Counties, Red Cross maintains an open shelter in Fountain, at Fountain Valley Baptist Church, 500 Alabama Ave. Medical, spiritual and mental health service volunteers are
Smoke still visible by our Disaster Assessment Team evaluating the #CarsonMidwayFire
available to affected residents. We urge evacuees to visit the shelter for refreshments and information as well as overnight accommodations.
Nicole M. enjoys a stuffed animal and comfort items at the shelter in Fountain.
We currently have 25 volunteers on duty in the capacities of sheltering, feeding, damage assessment and recovery, as well as all other support roles. We are actively serving food and water to fire fighters and their support teams.
Our disaster assessment teams are partnering with county officials in order to glean accurate information regarding the number and extent of structure damage. They will likely conclude sometime this afternoon barring any further spread of the fire. Our recovery casework staff will then be available to offer assistance.
Clean up kits which include supplies such as brooms and mops are being mobilized and will be distributed at Pikes Peak International Raceway to affected residents as they become available.
The Red Cross is continually inspired by the generosity of community members stepping up to help when disasters occur. We thank all of our partners and this amazing community for your efforts. At this time, we are not collecting inkind donations.
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UPDATE 7:00 P.M., Friday, March 16, 2018 – The Red Cross continues to support the response for the Carsonmidway wildfire. A shelter has been opened at the Fountain Valley Baptist Church, 500 Alabama Ave, Fountain CO. People who have been displaced from their homes are urged to go to the shelter for food, water and information and if they need overnight accommodations.
Small pets can be taken to two locations where they can be sheltered at no cost:
In El Paso County – Land of AHS, 12599 Jordan Rd, Fountain, CO
In Pueblo CoRed Cross volunteer Utah Smith supporting fire fighters at PPIRC.
unty – Pueblo Animal Services, 4600 Eagleridge Blvd, Pueblo, CO
Large animals can be taken to the Colorado State Fairground, 1001 Beulah Ave, Pueblo, CO, however due to a lack of need the Colorado State Fairgrounds will close at 7:30 P.M.
Red Cross volunteer Utah Smith provides pizza for fire fighters.
The wildfire that is south of Colorado Springs, near Midway, is being actively fought by a large number of fire fighting agencies. The Red Cross has volunteers on scene at the shelter willing to provide support when needed.
For people wanting to help by providing inkind items we appreciate your generosity but at this time all agencies have enough resources to handle the current situation.
Should there be a need for donations the Red Cross will announce that information through local media.
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UPDATE 3:15 PM, Friday, March 16, 2018 – Wildfire continues to threaten homes and buildings in the Midway area. An evacuation center remains open for those evacuated from their homes due to the wildfire. At the evacuation center people can meet with Red Cross volunteers, get out of the smokey environment, get water and s
Red Cross volunteer Peggy Johnson checks supplies in the emergency trailer at the evacuation center in Fountain. Photo by Kate Walters/American Red Cross
snacks, and get additional fire information.
Early in the afternoon, Girls Scout leader Gina Lucero brought Girl Scout cookies to the evacuation center to to be added to the snacks available at the evacuation center.
Girl Scout Leader Gina Lucero (r) brought Girl Scout cookies to the Evac Center in Fountain. Red Cross volunteer Ray Yelle accepted the donation.
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For Immediate Release
Evacuation Center opened for Fire Near Midway
Wildfire near Misdway, CO. Photo courtesy Fox21
Colorado Springs, CO, Friday, March 16, 2018 –The American Red Cross has opened an evacuation center at the Fountain Valley Baptist Church, 500 W. Alabama Ave, Fountain, CO 80817.
The evacuation center is opened to support people who have been told to evacuate due to the Indian Ridge Fire near Midway, CO. Erratic, strong, winds over dry grass is fueling the fire causing rapid movement. If you are told to evacuate we urge you to do so immediately. These are life threatening conditions. At the Evacuation Center evacuees will have a safe place to go where they can get additional evacuation information.
According to the Pueblo County Sheriff, large animals may be taken to the Colorado State Fair Grounds in Pueblo. That location is 1001 Beulah Ave, Pueblo, CO 81004.
El Paso County Emergency Services has activated the Humane Society of Pikes Peak Region to provide support for small animals. A shelter will be open near the evacuation center. More details to follow.
Note:Several hashtags are being used for this event. The most common is #carsonmidway and #carsonmidwayfire. Others include #IndianRidgeFire.
For fire information follow #epcosheriff, #pueblocountyso and #CSFDPIO on Twitter. For Red Cross information follow #COWYRedcross.