COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—Colorado Springs authorities waited two hours after the Waldo Canyon fire had breached a predetermined evacuation trigger point before ordering some residents to leave their homes.
According to radio traffic reviewed by The Denver Post ( ), Colorado Springs officials failed to follow a preset plan as the fire raged toward the city on June 26.
As a result panicked residents had only minutes to flee. Some residents were still packing to leave when their houses began to ignite.
Colorado Springs Fire Chief Richard Brown says he was unaware of the delay in ordering the mandatory evacuations. Brown says all aspects of the fire will be reviewed.
The fire destroyed more than 340 homes, killed two people and forced thousands to flee for safety.
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Information from: The Denver Post,
