A cloud of smoke over Colorado Springs.
SOUTHERN COLORADO -- Thousands of evacuees from parts of El Paso and Teller Counties are taking refuge at Red Cross shelters, in hotels or with family and friends Wednesday as the Waldo Canyon Fire continues to threaten homes on both sides of Ute Pass.
The latest mandatory evacuations are for areas along Highway 24, including Crystola, Holiday Hills and Ranch Estates. Residents of these evacuated areas must go west on Highway 24 because it is still closed from Crystola to Cave of the Winds.
In addition, mandatory evacuations had previously been issued to residents living west of I-25 and north of Garden of the Gods, as well as Holland Park residents west of Centennial, residents in Cedar Heights and two areas on the south side of the Air Force Academy.
Evacuees can go to one of six Red Cross shelters set up in the Pikes Peak Region. Those shelters are:
Cheyenne Mountain High School
Southeast YMCA
Lewis-Palmer High School
Cripple Creek-Victor High School
Summit Elementary School
The fire burned several homes in the Mountain Shadows neighborhood Tuesday night, but residents are not yet allowed to go back home.
Interactive Google Map showing the fire's path and location