EL PASO COUNTY — An 8,000-acre wildfire burned 17 structures, including three homes, east of Fountain before it was contained Friday night.
A homesteader’s ranch near the intersection of Squirrel Creek and Milne roads was hit hardest, according to the Colorado Springs Gazette. The Faust ranch lost two houses, including the original built in 1908, two garages, a barn and other structures.
No people or livestock were reported injured.
The blaze was fully contained about 8 p.m. Friday, about seven hours after a lightning strike started the fire on the dry plains. Dry, gusty winds pushed the flames.
The fire follows the driest July on record in Colorado Springs.
Only 0.29 of an inch of precipitation was recorded last month, breaking the record set in 1924 of 0.30 of an inch.
In western Colorado near Norwood, a 300-acre wildfire contunued to burn on federal land, but no structures were threatened. Denver Post wire reports
