Colorado Springs’ Waldo Canyon fire

The Waldo Canyon fire moved into subdivisions and destroyed homes in Colorado Springs, Colo. (Galon Wampler / Associated Press)

June 27, 2012 8:44 AM PT

The Waldo Canyon fire jumped firefighters’ perimeter lines in the hills overlooking Colorado Springs, Colo., forcing frantic mandatory evacuation notices for more than 32,000 residents, including the U.S. Air Force Academy, and destroying an unknown number of homes.

A helicopter fights the Waldo Canyon fire. (Galon Wampler / Associated Press)

People flee the Waldo Canyon fire with little time to spare as it burns through neighborhoods west of Colorado Springs. (Bryan Oller / Associated Press)

The Waldo Canyon fire hits homes in the Rock Rimmon area of northwest Colorado Springs, Colo., on the fourth day of the blaze. (Christian Murdock / Associated Press)