Residents near Fountain got an abrupt knock from reality Monday evening when the El Paso County Sheriff's Office ordered everyone within a half-mile of 20710 Outback Vw to get out immediately after a fire was reported in the 20700 block. People in the zone were told to evacuate now and keep an eye on local news outlets for the latest details while emergency crews worked the scene.
Where the Evacuation Order Hits
In a post on its official X account, the department said the evacuation covers a "1/2 mile radius from 20710 Outback Vw" and urged residents to "check local media" for further information, according to EPCSheriff. The alert did not include any estimate of the fire's size or how much of it, if any, was contained.
How Emergency Alerts Reach People
El Paso and Teller counties rely on the Peak Alerts system to push out geographically targeted emergency messages, including evacuation orders and multilingual updates. The El Paso-Teller County 9-1-1 Authority notes that Peak Alerts uses Everbridge and apps such as ReachWell to send notices based on either registered addresses or a phone's active location, according to the El Paso-Teller County 9-1-1 Authority.
What You Should Do If You Are in the Zone
If you are inside the ordered half-mile radius, authorities say you should leave immediately, bring pets and essential documents, and avoid driving into the area so roads stay clear for fire and law enforcement vehicles. The El Paso County Sheriff's Office lists its non-emergency dispatch number as (719) 390-5555, and residents should call 9-1-1 for immediate emergencies, according to the sheriff's office.
Still a Developing Situation
As of publication time, officials had not released details about the fire's size, containment level, or possible cause. The sheriff's post urged residents to follow local media for the most current updates, and people in the area should continue to rely on official channels for information on shelters, road closures, and when it is safe to return, per EPCSheriff.
