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Southern Colorado Wildfires Expand, Evacuations Remain

PAGOSA SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — The West Fork fire complex burning in southern Colorado has grown to more than 160 square miles.

Firefighters say the complex intensified Thursday and remained about 16 percent contained. The West Fork complex is made of three wildfires, the Papoose, West Fork and Windy Pass fires. The fires are burning between the cities of Creede, South Fork and Pagosa Springs.

The fire burned through a sulfur pit mine, but fire management spokesman Bobby Kitchens said people were far enough away not to be affected by dangerous fumes caused by burning sulfur.

No structures have been harmed in the West Fork complex, though some communities around the fire remained evacuated Saturday.

Kitchens is warning neighbors not to become complacent. He told The Denver Post, "It's not over."

(© Copyright 2013 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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)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 wildfires (Black Forest, Waldo Canyon, High Park and Fourmile) and largest wildfire (Hayman) in Colorado history.

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