Residents of more than 300 homes located south of Champagne Dr. and north of 30th in Colorado Springs are able to return after 6:00 this evening. Homes will have water and electricity, but utilities officials say individual gas service will take a little more time to restore. A placard will be at the home with further instructions. Roads included in this notice are Hearthstone Lane, Capra Way, and Cameo Way. For a complete list, please visit KRCC.org. City officials also announced residents and insurance adjusters will have access to properties still evacuated. That will take place from 9-4 on Thursday and checkin is at the Verizon building.
Manitou Springs Mayor Mark Snyder this morning downgraded the town from voluntary evacuation status.
"I'm please to share that our businesses and attractions have returned to normal operations. Manitou Springs welcomes guests and visitors, our hotels and restunarnts are open and would certainly love to serve you. To our neighbors in Colorado Springs and El Paso County, Manitou Springs remains committed to helping in the joint effort as our region recovers from this tragedy."
Still Snyder says they’re still on a preparedness status, and people to review emergency plans. The Gazette reports businesses in the town had to lay off more than 70 people since the start of the fire.
And five Air Force C-130 tankers are ready to resume firefighting after the crash of another tanker over the weekend killed four crew members and injured two. The military says none of the planes had been called on as of this afternoon. A C-130 based in North Carolina crashed Sunday while fighting a wildfire in the Black Hills of South Dakota, prompting officials to ground the seven remaining planes in the fleet.
