Calmer Weather Helps Fire Fight In Southern Colorado

DENVER (AP) - Firefighters are working to contain a seven square mile wildfire burning in the southern Colorado mountains ahead of hot, dry, windy weather returning this weekend.

Calmer weather throughout most of the day Saturday helped some 550 firefighters trying to contain the blaze. However, fire information officer Christe Feldmann says the winds began picking up in the afternoon and, hot, dry windy weather is expected to move over the area Sunday.

About 350 people in both Custer and Fremont counties have been evacuated because of the fire.

It started Sunday in the San Isabel National Forest and is 15 percent contained. Authorities suspect it was human-caused.

So far the fire has cost $2.9 million to fight.

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