Waldo Canyon Fire

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This photo was taken from Garden of the Gods, looking north towards Glen Eyrie, CO and the ridges just west of Colorado Springs. There are neighborhoods on the east slopes of the ridge climbing up pretty high, which are the homes that were in the path of the fire June 27, 2012. Courtesy of Don Savage Photography

The Waldo Canyon Fire threatens populated areas located near Colorado Springs, CO. It was discovered on June 23, 2012, burning in Pike National Forest . By June 27, it had burned 15,517 acres (6,280 hectares), was 5 percent contained, and had forced at least 32,000 people to evacuate their homes.

Don Savage, retired from NASA and residing in Colorado, captured photographs of the Waldo Canyon Fire. The photos taken on June 26 and 27, convey the close proximity to the Colorado Springs neighborhoods.

“One photo was shot from Garden of the Gods looking north towards Queen’s Canyon, where the fire crested the ridge and moved down into Colorado Springs,” he said. “When the Waldo Canyon fire crested a ridge it worked its way down to the Mountain Shadows neighborhood,” he said. “That’s where a few hours later many houses burned on June 26, 2012.”