Wildifire burns at least 80 Colorado homes

  • 11 years ago
In the path of a wind-whipped fire, at least 80 homes near Colorado Springs lie in rubble on Wednesday, as thick smoke fans out above the treetops of the Black Forest.

Ignited on Tuesday, officials say the fire has burned an estimated 8,000 acres of dense woodland as firefighters struggle to control the fast-moving blaze.

Evacuation notices went out to 2,600 homes and Army National Guard troops have deployed to help prevent looting.

The National Weather Service says low humidity, high temperatures and wind gusts in excess of 40 miles (65 km) an hour have created "very high to extreme fire danger" in Colorado.

Low humidity and heavy wind gusts fuel wildfires that destroy dozens of homes near Colorado Springs. Katharine Jackson reports.