Air Force Academy Prepares To Welcome Class Of 2016 Despite Fire
AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (CBS4)- The Air Force Academy plans to welcome the Class of 2016 on Thursday despite the Waldo Canyon Fire.
"We've looked at pros and cons of doing that as planned. We considered perhaps delaying but we made the decision that it is safe and it's the smart thing to do to receive the Class of 2016," said Lt. Gen. Mike Gould.
"One modification is that we will receive the incoming class in the cadet field house. We're doing it there rather than Doolittle Hall because it's a couple more miles to the north and we think it will be a much smoother and safer operation."
The freshman class of more than 1,000 is expected to report Thursday.
The only question remaining with the new class of cadets is whether to give them official training in the cadet area or use Discovery Canyon Campus which is further north.
"All in all it's all about cooperation, community, military and we couldn't be happier," said Gould.
The Air Force Academy evacuated residents in Pine Valley and Douglas Valley Tuesday evening.
"Around 10 p.m. Tuesday we confirmed that 100 percent of our people who were ordered to evacuate had done so. We're now finishing up our accountability so we know where everyone is. That was extremely important in the ever-changing nature of this fire when we didn't know where it might go and whether it would breach into Pine Valley," said Gould.
Fort Carson officials have made housing available to families ordered to evacuate the academy. The school has told about 2,200 people to leave.
He also outlined three main priorities for the Air Force Academy during the Waldo Canyon Fire. Those were defined as taking care of those who work and attend the Academy.
The second priority is fighting the fire.
"It is very unpredictable, as we know, but our strategy is to try to catch is at the borders of the Academy. If that fails our fire department falls back into a point defense where we look at our high-value assets primarily the hospital, the Academy clinic, and the cadet area of course which is where we educate, train, motivate, inspire these young men and women who come out and want to be leaders of America," said Gould.
The third priority is to continue the mission of the Academy.
"We have summer academics going on and that will continue as planned. A lot of cadets stay either to get ahead in a certain area of study others are trying to catch up. Summer academics will continue the cadets are safe and faculty is able to get in and teach the various courses," said Gould.
The field training and airman ship programs have been put on hold until further notice.
The Waldo Canyon Fire in the Colorado Springs has grown to 15,324 acres and destroyed an undetermined number of homes. Approximately 26,000 people were evacuated on Tuesday, an unprecedented emergency action for the city.
The fire's cause remains under investigation.
