The Army said it was a lightning strike that started the fire on the training site at Pinon Canyon last week, but one Southern Colorado lawmaker isn't so sure.

Representative Wes McKinley is demanding the release of military records. He said he wants to find out what activities were going on at Pinon Canyon when the fire started.

48,000 acres burned on the Army training ground over the past week. Now, it's 85 percent contained.

"How can we be in Iraq bombing the country, but we can't put out a fire in our own backyard? There’s something wrong with that," said McKinley.

Fort Carson said the treacherous terrain made the fire difficult to fight. McKinley is questioning the Mountain Post.

“The Army denied access to local firefighters to help put fire out," said McKinley.

Fort Carson said that's not true, but the Army may have another problem brewing under their feet.

Long-time opponent of the expansion of Pinon Canyon, Representative McKinley said he had the soil tested for uranium a year ago when he toured the training site and said there were high levels.

He said he's worried the fire this past week put pollutants into the air. Fort Carson officials said they don't know if that's possible since they haven't seen the lab results.

Controversy has long surrounded Pinon Canyon since a proposed expansion would triple the training site size. McKinley said this fire is an example that the Army can't take care of the land they already have.

Thursday morning, Fort Carson is holding a news conference. They will likely wrap up the on-going fight on the fire on Pinon Canyon.