Pre-Evacuation Notice Near Cheyenne Mountain Lifted as Rock Creek Fire Reaches 30% Containment
A small wildfire that ignited north of Rock Creek Canyon Road in El Paso County prompted and then cleared a pre-evacuation notice within hours, offering a real-world example of how these alerts work.
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A pre-evacuation notice issued for an area near Cheyenne Mountain in El Paso County, Colorado, was lifted by 12:30 p.m. after a small wildfire that ignited around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday north of Rock Creek Canyon Road was brought to 30% containment by 3:05 p.m., according to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office.
The Rock Creek fire was estimated at 1.5 acres as of late morning, according to the Denver Gazette. No further evacuations were reported after the notice was lifted.
For many residents, the episode raises a practical question: what exactly is a pre-evacuation notice, and what should you do when one is issued for your area?
A pre-evacuation notice is a preparatory alert — not a mandatory order — signaling that conditions are degrading and that a full evacuation notification may be imminent or forthcoming. According to the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM), it is the time to have all necessary items prepared and be ready to move to a safe location.
This is a preparatory notice that conditions are degrading and an Evacuation Notification may be imminent or forthcoming. This is the time to have all necessary items prepared and be ready to move to a safe location.— Colorado DHSEM
A full evacuation order, by contrast, means conditions are no longer safe and movement to a safe location is urgent, according to DHSEM. The agency recommends this plain-language framing over shorthand terms like 'Ready, Set, Go' — which, while widely used, can be misunderstood by the public.
Uinta County, Wyoming, uses the Ready-Set-Go framework but spells out what each stage means in plain terms: 'SET' — previously called a Pre-Evacuation Notice — means 'Be Alert,' while 'GO!' means 'Evacuate NOW! Do Not Delay,' according to the county's emergency management guidance.
Colorado's DHSEM cautions that jargon-heavy terminology puts the burden of interpretation on the person receiving the alert. Researchers Jeannette Sutton and Hamilton Bean, both cited by DHSEM as subject matter experts, have studied inconsistent evacuation language across states and jurisdictions and advocate for plain-language messaging that is immediately understandable without translation.
Regardless of the terminology used locally, the core guidance is consistent: when a pre-evacuation notice is issued, residents should pack essentials, secure or move pets and livestock, identify evacuation routes, and be prepared to leave without delay if a full order follows. Those who need extra time — due to mobility, animals, or other factors — are advised to consider leaving early. Anyone needing evacuation assistance should call 9-1-1 immediately, according to Uinta County emergency management.
The Rock Creek fire near Cheyenne Mountain, while quickly contained, is a reminder that these notices can be issued and lifted within a single day — and that being prepared before one arrives is the point.
Why it matters — Pre-evacuation notices can be issued and lifted within hours, making it essential for residents in fire-prone areas to understand what the alert means and have a plan ready before one arrives.
⚠ Not yet confirmed
- The fire date is reported as occurring on a Wednesday; the specific calendar date is referenced in the web summary as July 8 per the Denver Gazette URL, but the article text does not state a calendar date explicitly.
Reported by weather.gov, dhsem.colorado.gov, uintacountywy.gov, denvergazette.com
