COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — Wildfires have moved in on some of Colorado's most popular summer tourist destinations, demolishing nearly two dozen homes near Rocky Mountain National Park and emptying hotels and campgrounds at the base of Pikes Peak.
A wildfire burning out of control near Colorado Springs has scorched more than 3 square miles. At least 11,000 residents of the town of Manitou Springs and three nearby communities have been ordered to leave.
Tinder-dry conditions, gusty winds and temperatures in the 90s have been feeding eight fires across the state. The biggest is burning west of Fort Collins, where more than 118 square miles has been scorched and at least 191 homes destroyed.
Gov. John Hickenlooper says C-130 military transport planes from Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs will begin assisting firefighting efforts tomorrow.
Elsewhere in the West, firefighters have been reporting progress against wildfires in Utah, New Mexico and California.
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149-a-14-(Governor John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., with reporters)-"that with you"-Colorado governor John Hickenlooper says residents near the wildfires should be prepared to move when needed. (24 Jun 2012)
<<CUT *149 (06/24/12)>> 00:14 "that with you"
150-a-11-(Governor John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., with reporters)-"the air tomorrow"-Colorado governor John Hickenlooper says two C-130 military transport plans will assist fighting the fire on Monday. ((refers to Monday as "tomorrow")) (24 Jun 2012)
<<CUT *150 (06/24/12)>> 00:11 "the air tomorrow"
148-a-09-(Governor John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., with reporters)-"much more rapidly"-Colorado governor John Hickenlooper says gusty winds are making it tough for the firefighters near Colorado Springs. (24 Jun 2012)
<<CUT *148 (06/24/12)>> 00:09 "much more rapidly"
APPHOTO CODS501: In this Saturday, June 23, 2012 photo provided by Darrell Spangler, a firefighter works the scene of a home being consumed by flames in Estes Park, Colo. As many as 21 structures were destroyed by the fire on Saturday. Eight separate wildfires are burning across Colorado, which is seeing record-breaking heat. (AP Photo/Darrell Spangler) MANDATORY CREDIT (24 Jun 2012)
<<APPHOTO CODS501 (06/24/12)>>
APPHOTO CODZ111: A flower stands along Larimer County Road 74W as a wildfire continues to burn near Livermore, Colo., on Saturday, June 23, 2012. Authorities sent out 992 evacuation notices Friday due to the wildfire burning on more than 100 square miles in northern Colorado as winds pick up. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) (23 Jun 2012)
<<APPHOTO CODZ111 (06/23/12)>>
APPHOTO COCOL110: A slurry bomber drops fire retardant on a blaze near Colorado Springs, Colo., Saturday, June 23, 2012. The fire started Saturday and has grown to an estimated 600 acres. (AP Photo/The Colorado Springs Gazette, Mark Reis) (23 Jun 2012)
<<APPHOTO COCOL110 (06/23/12)>>
APPHOTO COCOL101: A slurry bomber drops fire retardant on a blaze near Colorado Springs, Colo., Saturday, June 23, 2012. The fire started Saturday and has grown to an estimated 600 acres. (AP Photo/The Colorado Springs Gazette, Christian Murdock) (23 Jun 2012)
<<APPHOTO COCOL101 (06/23/12)>>
