DENVER – Five wildfires have prompted the evacuation of hundreds of homes Friday amid dry, windy weather in Colorado.
At least 650 homes were affected, but the exact number wasn’t immediately known Friday afternoon.
Some structures were destroyed by one of the fires, in the mountains east of Fort Garland in southern Colorado. Authorities haven’t said how many. That fire has burned more than 37 square miles and prompted the closure of a highway.
The other fires ranged from 20 to 250 acres.
The National Weather Service issued a red-flag warning for most of western Colorado and eastern Utah on Friday, saying gusty winds and low humidity were conducive to fires.
Two new fires were reported Friday west of Pueblo and south of Florissant.
The fire west of Pueblo prompted authorities to shut down a 2-mile section of Colorado Highway 96. The Pueblo County Sheriff’s Department says the evacuation zone includes the Nature and Wildlife Discovery Center. Authorities had no estimate on the size of the fire.
The fire south of Florissant had burned about 100 acres.
Earlier evacuation orders remained in place Friday at two other Colorado wildfires.
About 300 homes were evacuated Thursday west of Rocky Mountain National Park. Some of those residents have been allowed to return.
