Colorado Springs is under a mandatory evacuation order as a massive wildfire engulfs parts of the residential areas in the state's second biggest city. Hundreds of homes have been destroyed around the region.
Residents were forced to evacuate as the 15,000-acre Black Forest fire destroyed 360 homes by Thursday afternoon. The Black Forest fire is the worst of three fires burning in the state and authorities say it's the worst fire in the state's history, NBC reports. At least two people have been killed in the fire.
On Thursday, Gov. John Hickenlooper declared three disaster emergencies which will provide $10.15 million to pay firefighters and other costs.
The sheriff's office made a mandatory evacuation announcement for a large area east of Colorado Springs. The order "means you are in immediate danger. Load your family and pets, and GO NOW," the sheriff's office said.
The fire was approaching the city with 400,000 residents.
"The winds yesterday really stirred the fire and pushed it off in quite a few different directions," El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa said according to NBC. "Wind is probably our number one threat. It is what has been the game changer. It is what has changed the conditions. I don't know any other word to describe it but 'very dynamic.'"
According to El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa, people within a 94,000 acre area were ordered to evacuate as firefighters work to control the flames. The high wind is making matters worse.
In the Royal Gorge fire. 48 structures were destroyed as the fire burns about 15 miles from Cañon City. The fire is threatening the Royal Gorge Bridge, which stretches more than 950 feet above the Arkansas River and is surrounded by theme park attractions. The bridge is intact but fire is burning on either sides of it.
The Royal Gorge fire has burned about 3,150 acres and is only 20 percent contained. "We have made good progress on the fire today without any accidents or injuries thanks in large part to our many partners," Dennis Page, incident commander for the Royal Gorge Fire, told the Cañon City Daily Record. The fire forced 900 prisoners at the Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility to evacuate to other prisons this week.
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