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Southern Colorado Wildfires Nearly Contained, Another Breaks Out

DENVER (AP/CBS4) - Two wildfires near the Colorado-New Mexico border were nearly out Saturday morning, with full containment expected by the end of the day.

Bill Kight of the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team said that the lightning-caused Bear Fire about 20 miles north of Ramos, N.M., and the Purgatoire Fire a few miles away were more than 90 percent contained.

Kight said the fires threatened no structures and were expected to be contained by the end of Saturday. He said most Colorado firefighting crews would leave the area, leaving 40 firefighters and one engine to assist local authorities finishing off the fires.

The two fires collectively scorched about 20 square miles.

Another fire is burning out of control near those fires. The Salt Fire has burned 3,000 acres. Strong winds and dry conditions are fueling the fire. Lightning is believed to have sparked the Salt Fire.

Salt Fire
An image of the Salt Fire (credit: Chris Sorensen, Kiowa County Department of Emergency Management)


(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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