Fire crews responded to multiple vehicles on fire near N. Academy Boulevard Monday morning in Colorado Springs, according to fire department.

The Colorado Springs Fire Department was called to 155 N. Academy Boulevard on the east side of the city. Engine 8, Engine 7, and Engine 11 responded to extinguish the fire.

The fire has been put out. Three vehicles are a complete loss, the fire department says.

Roads were shut down in the area at about 5 a.m., but have since reopened.

The cause of the fire and any reports of injuries were not immediately available.

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A military service member died after falling during a rappelling demonstration before a University of Texas at San Antonio football game, Nellis Air Force Base officials said.

The service member, who was assigned to the 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment 2, was injured Saturday at the Alamodome and taken to a local hospital, where the service member later died, according to Nellis Air Force Base Public Affairs.

The incident occurred before UTSAs annual Salute to Armed Forces and Veterans game against the U.S. Naval Academy. An investigation was underway to determine what led to the fall.

The service member was identified as U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Ian Patterson from Fort Stewart, Georgia.

The game continued after a brief delay. UTSA and university officials expressed condolences following the incident.

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The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has confirmed with News5 the first reported pediatric influenza-associated death of the 2026-27 respiratory virus season in an elementary-aged child from outside the Denver metro area.

State health officials said Friday there is no record that the child received the 2026-27 flu vaccine. The department did not release additional information about the child. The death comes as flu activity increases across Colorado, with hospitals reporting more positive flu tests and flu-related hospitalizations, according to CDPHE.

The state is coming off its most severe pediatric flu season on record. During the 2025-26 season, Colorado recorded 5,931 flu-related hospitalizations, the highest annual total since the state began tracking the data in 2004. Of those hospitalizations, 1,169 involved children, and eight children died from the flu.

Last years record hospitalizations were a sobering reminder of how serious the flu can be, especially for young children, said Dr. Rachel Herlihy, Colorados state epidemiologist and deputy chief medical officer.

Herlihy urged parents to get their children vaccinated before flu transmission increases further.

CDPHE recommends annual flu vaccination for everyone 6 months and older. Officials say it takes about two weeks after vaccination for full protection to develop. Flu vaccines are available at pharmacies, doctors offices, community health centers and local public health agencies. Most insurance plans, including Medicaid and Child Health Plan Plus, cover the cost of vaccination. Free or low-cost vaccines for children without insurance are available at nearly 600 locations statewide.

More information about flu activity and vaccination resources is available through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

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Colorado diesel prices have climbed to a record $6.31 per gallon on average, as refinery maintenance and global supply disruptions push fuel costs higher, according to GasBuddy.

On Tuesday, News5 saw several stations with diesel prices more than $6.50 in the Colorado Springs area, including one priced at $6.79.

Patrick De Haan, GasBuddys head of petroleum analysis, said the states average diesel price has surpassed previous records, including a high of $5.66 set earlier this year and $5.53 in 2022. The latest spike comes as diesel supplies remain tight both in the United States and overseas. De Haan said seasonal refinery maintenance following the summer driving season is contributing to price volatility in Colorado, where the market is particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions.

Colorado has only one oil refinery, meaning maintenance or other disruptions can have an outsized impact on the states fuel supply and prices.

It's just all about refineries right now and not enough diesel supply, De Haan explained.

Global conflicts are adding to the pressure. Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries have affected diesel supplies, while disruptions involving the Strait of Hormuz and reduced exports from Chinese refineries have further constrained the global market, De Haan said.

Although President Donald Trump recently announced a potential deal involving Russian fuel supplies, De Haan said it is unclear whether Russia can provide additional diesel. He noted that Russia has restricted diesel exports since July amid supply challenges.

The United States already exports about 1.5 million barrels of excess diesel per day, according to De Haan, raising questions about whether a potential deal with Russia would significantly increase the amount of fuel available globally.

Colorado's efforts to ease prices

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis recently signed an executive order intended to provide relief from high fuel prices by allowing certain changes involving dyed diesel and transportation requirements. Dyed diesel is typically reserved for off-road uses, such as farming and construction, where it receives different tax treatment. Allowing its use on public roads under specified conditions could offer some tax-related relief, De Haan said, but it would not increase the overall supply of diesel. He also cautioned that truckers traveling across state lines could face complications if neighboring states have different rules governing dyed diesel.

The biggest problem here is none of these levers are meaningfully adding diesel supply to the global market, De Haan added.

More price increases possible

De Haan said he does not expect meaningful short-term relief unless global supply conditions improve.

Diesel is also used as heating oil, particularly in parts of the northeastern United States where natural gas is not available. As temperatures drop, increased demand for heating oil could put additional pressure on diesel supplies. If winter weather is especially cold, De Haan said diesel prices could approach $7 per gallon in some areas. He said the outlook will depend largely on refinery operations, global fuel supplies and geopolitical tensions involving Russia, Ukraine and Iran.

Click here for more on fuel rewards programs in Colorado to save at the pump.

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The Colorado Heart Gallery is using the power of photography and storytelling to help children and teens in foster care find permanent, adoptive families.

Founded in 2005 as a collaboration between the Colorado Department of Human Services, nonprofit partners and volunteer photographers, the Colorado Heart Gallery features professional portraits, videos and personal narratives of youth awaiting adoption.

The images are displayed online and in traveling exhibits across the state, giving prospective parents a chance to connect with children on a more personal level.

One of the youth looking for a forever family is Troy.

Troy's bio from the Colorado Heart Gallery is below:

Calm, caring, and considerate are just a few words that describe Troy. When a subject catches his attention, he dives in with laser-like focus. Troy is passionate about gaming and loves interacting with horses and other animals. Among his animal friends, pit bulls and reptiles hold a special place in his heart, and forming attachments to them comes effortlessly to him. He finds solace in drawing and enjoys the thrill of sports and video games. Fruits, especially watermelon and mango, are his favorite snacks; he often enjoys them while listening to music. Troy has an appreciation for nature and enjoys going for walks and hikes. If he could choose superpowers, he would pick invisibility and X-ray vision. His favorite colors are red and black. Troy aspires to hit the open road as a truck driver when he grows up.This tenth grader's most liked subject is math.Troy would like to live in a home with pets, where he can have his own room and be the only child; however, his caseworker will consider all family types. He has significant connections to maintain following placement. Financial assistance may be available for adoption-related services.

Families interested in learning more about Charlie or other children available for adoption and fostering can contact the Colorado Heart Gallery. You can also call (303)755-4756 for more information.

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At least one person is dead after a vehicle crashed into a concrete pylon and caught fire early Monday morning in Colorado Springs, according to police.

The Colorado Springs Police Department received a call just before 3 a.m. Monday about a vehicle fire in the 5300 block of Mark Dabling Boulevard, according to the duty lieutenant.

A person riding a bicycle spotted the burning vehicle after it had struck a concrete pylon beneath the roadway, police said. Officers and Colorado Springs Fire Department crews responded to the scene. The vehicle was fully engulfed in flames, and at least one person was inside.

Both directions of Mark Dabling Boulevard were closed between Rockrimmon Boulevard and Enterprise Road, just north of Garden of the Gods Road. Local traffic will be allowed through to reach homes in the area. The closure was still in place as of 4 a.m.

The road closure is expected to last for several hours.

As more information becomes available, this article will be updated.

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Two Pueblo officers were injured in a shooting late Saturday night after responding to a reported home invasion, according to police. The suspect died at the scene.

Police received a call about a home invasion at about 11:09 p.m. in the 1600 block of Gaylord Avenue. The neighborhood is northwest of Lake Minnequa. While officers were responding, they learned the suspect had fled in a Dodge Ram, according to a department news release.

Officers located the vehicle near Jones and Brimmer avenues and began pursuing it. The suspect abandoned the vehicle along Regency Boulevard on the west side of the city near Lehigh Park and ran into a nearby apartment complex.

Officers followed the suspect to an upstairs apartment and knocked on the door while identifying themselves as police, according to the release. The suspect opened the door, and an exchange of gunfire followed.

Two officers were injured. One was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not considered life threatening. The other officer's condition was not immediately available.

The suspect received medical treatment but was pronounced dead at the scene. The Pueblo County Coroner's Office identified the person who died as 36-year-old Luis Antonio Morales.

The 10th Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team has been activated to investigate the shooting. The officers involved and dispatchers have been placed on administrative leave, in accordance with department policy.

The investigation remains active. Police said no additional information would be released at this time.

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For Lynne Bartole, retirement didn't mean closing the book on her career. Instead, it meant finding a whole new way to use the ones she already had. Bartole, a former English teacher and avid reader, started Deja Vu Decor in 2020 after finding herself with a collection of books and few options for recycling them. Her solution was to transform those books into handmade works of art.

I was looking for some place to put my books, and a lot of places don't recycle and a lot of them won't take used books, Bartole explained. And so I thought, well, you know, I need to find a way to repurpose.

That idea has grown into a creative business featuring intricate book sculptures, decorative Christmas trees, bookmarks and other book-inspired creations. Some designs follow patterns that help Bartole determine where to cut and fold each page. Others come from a little experimentation and imagination.

I just take books, and I transform them into something that is different from what we are normally used to saying with a book, giving them longer life, Bartole added.

Her husband, Bill, has become an essential part of the operation, handling the cutting that requires power tools, transporting their creations to markets and helping prepare for shows. But don't assume a machine is doing all the work.

The pages are all individually hand-done, Bill Bartole said as he showed of work done on "Sycamore Row" by John Grisham. They're measured and marked, and then those marks get cut and folded into a tab that expands the book so you can see the actual design.

The process takes time and patience, turning each book into a one-of-a-kind piece.

I am a former English teacher. I am an avid reader. I will not destroy books, she said. I'm repurposing them.

Bartole points to an estimated 640,000 tons of hardcover books that end up in landfills, in part because their bindings can make recycling difficult. For her, book art offers a way to give some of those materials a second life. The couple has spent the past six years bringing their creations to local markets, building a following of customers who return to see what's new. Bartole said she introduces new designs each year, including new Christmas trees for this season.

They typically attend four shows a year, giving customers a chance to see the artwork up close and hear the story behind it. That personal connection is part of the appeal, especially in a world where online shopping offers seemingly endless options. For the Bartoles, selling their work in person also means connecting with the community, and spending time together in retirement.

It's been a journey, and we're going to continue the journey, Bill Bartole said.

Lynn said her husband is more than just the person hauling boxes and working in the garage. He's also her biggest supporter and most honest critic.

He keeps me, he's my, he's my best critic, and he's my best fan, she said.

The couple will bring their handmade creations to the Front Range Maker's Market, where shoppers can browse their work and find gifts that are a little more personal than something pulled from a shelf.

For Deja Vu Decor, the goal is simple: take something familiar, give it a new purpose and turn a well-loved book into something worth looking at for years to come.

FRONT RANGE MAKER'S MARKET DETAILS:

What: Front Range Maker's Market When: Saturday, Oct. 10, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 11, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Where: Lewis-Palmer High School, 1300 Higby Road, Monument Admission: $5 per person at the door; children 12 and younger get in free Parking: Free parking is available in the school's parking lots.

The market accepts cash and cards for admission and purchases. Visitors who leave and plan to return must have their hands stamped for re-entry.

CLICK HERE for a list of vendors.

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