Wildfires Burn 100 Homes in Colorado, U.S.

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, June 05, 2002

Wildfires Burn 100 Homes in Colorado, U.S.

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Hundreds of firefighters were battling a blaze that has destroyed at least 85 homes in south-central Colorado,U.S. They worked to extend a containment line around the 4,400-acre fire burning through trees and brush in mountains about 100 miles southwest of Denver.

A strong cold front moved through the area overnight, bringing higher humidity, lower temperatures and a chance of afternoon thunderstorms, Bureau of Land Management spokeswoman Barb Masinton said Tuesday.

The fire was just 10% to 20% surrounded Tuesday. Authorities had said Monday that it was up to 40% contained, but they said Tuesday that the number had been recalculated.

One of several burning throughout the West, the fire forced hundreds of people out of their homes and closed Royal Gorge Park, west of Canon City. A general store, up to 100 homes and several other buildings were destroyed, and up to 700 more homes were at risk, fire officials said.

Fremont County Sheriff Ivan Middlemiss said the fire may have been started by an outdoor barbecue grill.

Four air tankers dropped fire retardant on the blaze Monday. Fire commander Kim Martin said there is stiff competition for the planes because of the number of fires burning in the West, but she said this fire remains a priority.

Torched-out areas resembled a moonscape, Middlemiss said. He said charred trees and blackened houses were next to other houses with no damage.

A separate fire of about 15,000 acres in the same area threatened three communities and had burned across some methane-gas fields, fire information officer Alan Hoffmeister said. The gas wells were shut down and the pipelines were drained, he said.

In California, flames crackled across more than 9,000 acres of timber and brush as firefighters continued to wage an all-out assault on five wildfires. Unlike in Colorado, the weather forecast wasn't improving.

In New Mexico, six lightning-sparked fires have charred more than 18,500 acres of bone-dry forest. That includes the northern fire that burned into Colorado's Las Animas County.

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