fire

A helicopter hoists water from the Air Force Academy water treatment plant to dump on the Waldo Canyon Fire June 28. The Waldo Canyon fire has destroyed over 18,000 acres in the Colorado Springs area. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Boitz)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
fire

Helicopters dump water on the Waldo Canyon Fire that has spread to the outskirts of the Air Force Academy, Colo., June 28. The Waldo Canyon fire has destroyed over 18,000 acres in the Colorado Springs area. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Boitz)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
fire

A helicopter dumps water on the Waldo Canyon Fire that has spread to the outskirts of the Air Force Academy, Colo., June 28. The Waldo Canyon fire has destroyed over 18,000 acres in the Colorado Springs area. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Boitz)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
fire

Helicopters dump water on the Waldo Canyon Fire that has spread to the outskirts of the Air Force Academy, Colo., June 28. The Waldo Canyon fire has destroyed more than 18,000 acres in the Colorado Springs area. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Boitz)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
fire

A helicopter dumps water on the Waldo Canyon Fire that has spread to the outskirts of the Air Force Academy, Colo., June 28. The Waldo Canyon fire has destroyed more than 18,000 acres in the Colorado Springs area. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Boitz)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
fire

A helicopter prepares to dump water on the Waldo Canyon Fire June 28, Air Force Academy, Colo. The Waldo Canyon fire has destroyed more than 18,000 acres in the Colorado Springs area. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Boitz)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
fire

Tech Sgt. Jason Linta, Bobby Garza, and Dean Prestia cut lines to create a firebreak to prevent fires from jumping at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., June 28. Sergeant Linta is a firefighter assigned to the Air Force Academy and Garza and Prestia are firefighters assigned to Buckley Air Force Base, Colo. The Waldo Canyon fire has destroyed more than 18,000 acres in the Colorado Springs area. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Boitz)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
fire

Tech Sgt. Jason Linta, Bobby Garza, and Dean Prestia cut lines to create a firebreak to prevent fires from jumping at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., June 28. Sergeant Linta is a firefighter assigned to the Air Force Academy and Garza and Prestia are firefighters assigned to Buckley Air Force Base, Colo. The Waldo Canyon fire has destroyed more than 18,000 acres in the Colorado Springs area. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Boitz)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
fire

Tech. Sgt. Jason Linta, Bobby Garza, and Dean Prestia cut lines to create a firebreak to prevent fires from jumping at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., June 28. Sergeant Linta is a firefighter assigned to the Air Force Academy and Garza and Prestia are firefighters assigned to Buckley Air Force Base, Colo. The Waldo Canyon fire has destroyed more than 18,000 acres in the Colorado Springs area. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Boitz)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
fire

Bobby Garza, a fire fighter assigned to Buckley Air Force Base, Colo., cuts a line to create a firebreak to prevent fires from jumping into the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., June 28. The Waldo Canyon fire has destroyed more than 18,000 acres in the Colorado Springs area. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Boitz)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
fire

Dennis Lieneke, and Matt Backeberg, pull fire lines off a truck in preparation for spot fires at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., June 28. Both are firefighters assigned to Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, Colo. The Waldo Canyon fire has destroyed more than 18,000 acres in the Colorado Springs area. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Boitz)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res

Air Force firefighters taking fight to Colorado Springs wildfire

Published June 29, 2012

Air Force Space Command Public Affairs -- Air Force Space Command photographer SSgt. Christopher Boitz embedded with firefighters Thursday on the grounds of the U.S. Air Force Academy as they worked to fight the Waldo Canyon Fire. The wild fire started on Saturday, June 23 in Waldo Canyon, close to Manitou Springs, Colo. and has burned 16,750 acres in the Colorado Springs area. There is one confirmed fatality and 346 structures destroyed as a result of the fire. Expected containment date is July 16, 2012.