Hayden Pass Fire Near Coaldale Now 30 Percent Contained

COALDALE, Colo. (AP) - Firefighters are letting areas of a wildfire burn near Coaldale in southern Colorado because it is too dangerous to get into some wilderness areas.

However, they have managed to protect homes and contain 30 percent of the blaze as of Monday.

Residents began evacuating July 11 after the fire flared up from a lightning strike several days earlier. It has burned 25 square miles.

In northern Colorado, the state's largest fire, burning along the Colorado-Wyoming border, has blackened about 40 square miles. The fire started nearly a month ago and isn't expected to be contained for another two months.

Wildfire Resources

- Visit CBSDenver.com's Living With Wildfire section.

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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