Heat, Winds Pose Challenge For Colorado Firefighters
BELLVUE, Colo. (AP) — Firefighters battling a wildfire burning on over 100 square miles in northern Colorado are on the lookout for spot fires that hot, windy conditions could help ignite.
Red flag warnings go into effect Friday afternoon and the hot, dry conditions could last through the weekend. Winds are expected to gust up to 35 at the High Park fire west of Fort Collins, which is now 60 percent contained.
It's not expected to be fully contained for at least three weeks.
The 1,150-acre wildfire burning near Lake George is 57 percent contained.
In western Colorado, a fire burning for over a month near Pagosa Springs has grown by about 1,300 acres in the last 24 hours, sending out a column of smoke. Two ranches have been evacuated.
(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
Wildfire Resources
- Visit CBSDenver.com's Wildfire Resources section.
- Read recent Wildfire stories.
Wildfire Photo Galleries
- See images from the most destructive wildfire (Fourmile Fire) and largest wildfire (Hayman Fire) in Colorado history.
