Waldo Canyon Fire (2012)
El Paso County (Colorado Springs), Colorado · Jun 23, 2012 – Jul 10, 2012
Most destructive Colorado wildfire at the timeAcres burned
18,247
Lives lost
2
Structures destroyed
347
Year
2012
Evacuations
~32,000 people evacuated
What happened
The Waldo Canyon Fire burned into Colorado Springs neighborhoods in 2012, destroying 347 homes — at the time the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history.
Cause
Human-caused (undetermined)
Location
El Paso County (Colorado Springs), Colorado
Key facts
- ▪Most destructive CO fire at the time (2012)
- ▪Burned into Colorado Springs suburbs
- ▪~32,000 people evacuated
- ▪Surpassed a year later by the Black Forest Fire
Replay the Waldo Canyon Fire in the spread simulator
This centers the wildfire-spread simulator on the Waldo Canyon Fire’s documented ignition point and replays its conditions on 2012-06-23 — the day’s strongest wind, temperature, and humidity from the open-meteo historical archive (which set the fire-day fuel moisture) — run through the same Rothermel surface-fire model used across FireRisk. Press ▶ Simulate to watch how fire tends to move under those conditions.
⚠️ Educational reconstruction — not the real fire perimeter
This is a simplified model of how fire spreads under the 2012 conditions, not the Waldo Canyon Fire’s actual burned area, official progression, or a prediction of any current fire. It cannot account for real fuels, suppression, spotting, or how conditions changed hour to hour. For real-time fire information always follow Watch Duty, official agencies, and local authorities — and call 911 in an emergency.
Loading the 2012 fire-day conditions…
Reminder: an educational reconstruction of fire spread under the 2012 conditions — not the Waldo Canyon Fire’s actual perimeter, an official record, or a forecast. Modeled spread, direction, and timing are illustrative only. Never rely on it for any safety decision.
Could your home survive a fire like the Waldo Canyon Fire?
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Related major fires
Waldo Canyon Fire FAQ
When was the Waldo Canyon Fire and where did it burn?
The Waldo Canyon Fire started Jun 23, 2012 in El Paso County (Colorado Springs), Colorado, and was contained Jul 10, 2012.
How many acres did the Waldo Canyon Fire burn?
The Waldo Canyon Fire burned approximately 18,247 acres.
How many people died in the Waldo Canyon Fire?
Approximately 2 people died in the Waldo Canyon Fire.
What caused the Waldo Canyon Fire?
Human-caused (undetermined).
Figures are approximate and compiled from official agency reporting; totals for recent fires may still be revised. FireRisk.ai is an independent wildfire-risk service.