COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Colorado Springs Utilities officials said it will take at least another week to survey damage in upper Mountain Shadows after crews said it is "worse than expected."
Crews were able to restore utilities to many customers Monday and expect to have all utilities restored to areas no longer under evacuation by the end of the day Wednesday. However, the western part of the burn area is severely damaged and will require intense maintenance.
About 3,000 people remain evacuated because of the Waldo Canyon Fire, though that number is expected to drop to 2,100 after roughly 900 people in 331 homes south of Champaign Drive will be allowed to return home at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Officials said the severely damaged utility areas impacts about 1,200 evacuees, all of whom will remain evacuated indefinitely.
Those who are still evacuated after Tuesday's lift will be allowed in to their neighborhood with insurance agents from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Thursday to begin the insurance claim process. They have to check in at the Verizon Center. Evacuations will be put back in place at 4 p.m. so utilities crews can resume work.
The fire remains 70 percent contained, and crews said they are about three days away from "feeling very comfortable." Five firefighters suffered minor "heat-related" injuries so far.
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