BELLVUE, Colo. (AP) — More people evacuated by the most destructive fire in Colorado history are set to return home today.
It's the second wave of evacuees allowed back in two days as firefighters ramp up their attack on the wildfire that's burned over 100 square miles and destroyed at least 189 homes.
Fire managers say the blaze is 55 percent contained.
Meanwhile, firefighters are making progress against another blaze in central Colorado, which may have been caused by a meteor. The 2-square-mile wildfire near Lake George is 39 percent contained.
The county sheriff says his office received multiple reports, including one from a person who thought a meteorite might have landed in a wooded area north of Buena Vista. He says officials could not confirm that report.
The National Weather Service says the Colorado sightings correspond with a report of a possible meteor filed by the crews of two commercial aircraft over Kansas and another over New Mexico, near the Colorado State line.
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089-a-07-(John Schulz, spokesman, Larimer County Sheriff's Office, at news conference)-"to their homes"-Larimer County Sheriff's spokesman John Schulz says conditions, in some areas, are improving. (21 Jun 2012)
<<CUT *089 (06/21/12)>> 00:07 "to their homes"
087-a-16-(Major Michael McClelland, commander, Task Force Security, 193rd Military Police Battalion, at news conference)-"for their protection"-Major Michael McClelland, who's the commander of National Guard troops at the scene, says the troops are under orders to be respectful toward evacuees who are trying to get around roadblocks. (21 Jun 2012)
<<CUT *087 (06/21/12)>> 00:16 "for their protection"
APPHOTO COEA109: A burnt cactus stands near a home that was destroyed by the High Park Wildfire are pictured during a tour by fire officials in Poudre Canyon west of Fort Collins, Colo., on Wednesday, June 20, 2012. Areas with other homes destroyed were not included in the tour. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski) (20 Jun 2012)
<<APPHOTO COEA109 (06/20/12)>>
APPHOTO COEA110: The stairs that led to a home that was destroyed by the High Park Wild fire are photographed during a tour by fire officials in Poudre Canyon west of Fort Collins, Colo., on Wednesday, June 20, 2012. The largest Colorado blaze west of Fort Collins was 55 percent contained and has destroyed at least 189 homes since it was sparked by lightning June 9. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski) (20 Jun 2012)
<<APPHOTO COEA110 (06/20/12)>>
