The 7,385-acre 24 Fire south of Colorado Springs has been attributed to a vehicle malfunction on March 18 by officials. The fire has closed Highway 115 between Colorado Springs and Cañon City for nearly a week, causing it to generate smoke and threaten homes near Penrose. About 240 firefighters, including Colorado Springs crews and hotshot teams from six states, are currently working towards reopening the highway. The blaze, which occurred during what is typically the wettest time of the year, has been causing concern among residents due to inconsistent communication and delayed updates in emergency alerts. A separate fire on Fort Carson land scorched 1,600 acres last week, highlighting the region's fire-prone tendencies.