COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — One of Colorado's newest wildfires is proving to be hard to contain. It has grown to more than 6 square miles since it erupted Saturday.
The fire near Colorado Springs prompted evacuation orders for 11,000 residents and an unknown number of tourists. Those orders were later lifted for the 5,000 residents of nearby Manitou Springs.
Colorado is having its worst wildfire season in a decade, with more than a half dozen forest fires burning across the dry terrain.
Some hotels and campgrounds are emptying out, a week ahead of the busy Fourth of July holiday.
No homes have been reported damaged in the fire near Colorado springs. But a fire near Rocky Mountain National Park has destroyed structures near the mountain community of Estes Park.
Clouds of smoke have been blowing toward the 102-year-old Stanley Hotel -- the one that inspired Stephen King to write "The Shining."
Firefighters have been battling with windy, hot conditions as they battle wildfires in Utah, New Mexico, Arizona and California.
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226-a-12-(Greg Heule (HYOO'-lee), spokesman for Waldo Canyon fire, in interview)-"in the sky"-Waldo Canyon fire spokesman Greg Heule says authorities have a lot of resources in fighting the wildfires. COURTESY: KKTV ((mandatory on-air credit)) (24 Jun 2012)
<<CUT *226 (06/24/12)>> 00:12 "in the sky"
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"
084-a-12-(Greg Heule (HYOO'-lee), spokesman for Waldo Canyon fire, in interview)-"in the sky"-Waldo Canyon fire spokesman Greg Heule says authorities have a lot of resources in fighting the wildfires. COURTESY: KKTV ((mandatory on-air credit)) (25 Jun 2012)
<<CUT *084 (06/25/12)>> 00:12 "in the sky"
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 CODS504: In this photo provided by Darrell Spangler, rubble smolders Sunday, June 24, 2012, from a home consumed by fire a day earlier, 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 CODS504 (06/24/12)>>
