EL PASO COUNTY, COLO. -- Colorado State troopers said the Waldo Canyon Fire has spread to more than 2,500 acres.
Highway 24 is currently closed in both directions from 31st Street in Old Colorado City to Crystola. Crews hoped to keep the fire from jumping the highway.
The entire city of Manitou Springs is under a mandatory evacuation order.
The city, which sits at the base of Colorado's front range just east of Pikes Peak, is evacuating all of its 5,200 residents. Along with mandatory evacuations in Colorado Springs subdivisions Cedar Heights, parts of Mountain Shadows, residents in Green Mountain Falls, Chipita Park, Mountain Shadows north of Chuck Wagon and Cascade south of Highway 24, the total number of evacuees has reached about 11,000.
Farish and Carrol Lakes have also been evacuated near Rampart Range Road, and Palmer Park is closed.
Voluntary evacuations have been encouraged for Teller County residents south of Woodland Park.
Fire crews said hot, dry conditions Sunday will make firefighting efforts difficult. Temperatures are again expected to be near record-highs Sunday, and winds about 20-30 mph are expected to blow the fire north and northwest.
The fire is not contained at all as of Sunday morning.
So far no homes have been burned, though the fire is about .25 miles from structures. Officials do not know how the fire started.
Two air tankers from the High Park Fire have been diverted, and 450 firefighters are currently on the ground. Gov. John Hickenlooper said two additional tankers have arrived from the federal government.
Evacuation shelters have been set up at Cheyenne Mountain High School and Summit Elementary School. If you are evacuating, leave your gas on. Colorado Springs Utilities crews will turn it off for you.
The Penrose Equestrian Center is providing shelter for large animals, and the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region and the Bear Creek Veterinary Care are providing shelter for smaller animals.
Weather will remain hot and dry throughout the weekend.
Anyone looking for information can call (719) 955-0742, which is a non-emergency number.
Click here to see photos of the fire.
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