The wildfire burning in El Paso County along the east side of Interstate 25 in the Hanover area has burned about 41,000 acres is now fully contained, according to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office.
As of Thursday night, all evacuations have been lifted.
The blaze has destroyed 23 homes - seven of which were vacant - and several outbuildings. No one was hurt but 16 families have been displaced.
"We had 50-foot flames moving at 35 miles an hour yesterday [Tuesday]," Elder said. "It covered that distance, from here to .. it covered a distance of 35 miles in 2 hours, it was flying through there."
There is another smaller fire burning to the east into Lincoln and Crowley Counties. That fire will be combined with the 117 Fire as one incident under command of the state.
The 117 Fire forced the evacuation of 370 homes affecting about 1,000 people. Everyone told to get out of their homes has been given the all-clear, according to law enforcement.
The fire started Tuesday and was fanned by strong winds.
"People have got to know don't throw cigarettes out windows," Elder said. "Secure chains, those chains create sparks when they bounce on the pavement and that starts fires.We don't know what caused this, but it started right along the interstate."
A firefighter sent video to a reporter at KOAA in Colorado Springs.
Tuesday night a disaster declaration was made and local authorities were working with the state to take over command of the fire.
EDITOR'S NOTE: An earlier tweet from the El Paso County sheriff's office estimated the acreage at 60,000 acres.
