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Subscribe to RSSSome 380 evacuated residents of an area west of Pueblo, Colo., were watching fearfully as a wildfire that has already burned at least 12 structures grew quickly overnight.
The fire broke out Tuesday afternoon one mile west of Wetmore, Colo., and by Wednesday morning had burned through more than 1,700 acres.
Winds Tuesday night topped 50 mph, NBC station KUSA-TV in Denver reported, and the forecast for Wednesday called for continued strong winds.
"It's going to be a really challenging day," Steve Segin of the Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center told KUSA.
Bryan Kelsen / The Chieftain via AP
Smoke billows from a wildfire near Wetmore, Colo., on Tuesday.
Windy conditions could undermine plans to deploy aircraft to help firefighters on the ground.
On Tuesday, around 100 firefighters were in the area and focused on protecting 25 homes closest to the fire, Pueblo County said in an update.
Related: Fire season is second largest on record
The residents who fled their homes on Tuesday were either staying with friends or family, or at shelters in nearby Florence and Pueblo.
The fire is zero percent contained, but officials were hoping rain or even snow might move in Wednesday night. The cause of the fire has not been determined.
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Leave a Comment:
Praying for rain. We in Utah have had a pretty good dose of it, so perhaps it's coming your way.
Time for Obama to make a campaign visit to the area, isn't it?
Wishing you luck Colorado. Never been in a wildfire or even seen one for that matter. Can't imagine what it's like!
not again. :(
really this is the news story for US today
The White House lied about Libya and you are hiding behind a fire in Colorado??????
you guys are so out of the house and back to Chicago ..... lol
Thats right..never miss an opportunity to drag politics into any and all discussions.. and ugly politics at that, since the President said THE FIRST DAY that it was a terrorist attack and would do all possible to catch them. Hey, remember how the Bush administration fouled up by ingnoring warnings before the first 9/11?
People are losing their homes and posessions and could be in danger for their lives and all searay can do is bang his little drum. Bet he would sing a different tune if it was his home. These are the kind of people who are first in the FEMA line when it's their house burned/blown away. I know, I saw them when we had tornados here...the small government/T party type conservatives were right in there wanting their share.
Pot meet kettle.
Searay you repubs forget so quickly. Weapons of mass destruction Lie. Bush ignored security briefings that could have prevented 9/11. So get off your high horse. Thousands died because of republican mistakes. Those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
Really this is your news story today?????
The white house is lying about Libya all along and you are hiding behind a local Colorado story???
you are so back to Chicago guy's ---- lol
up in smoke the White house went ...... hahaha
Hey, searay3000! Have you ever been in danger of losing everything you own, including your home, belongings and pets to a wildfire?! I know first hand how scary it is... and it IS news, especially to those directly affected!
Exactly cattivafiore - an example of the arrogance of the right-wing
We are getting hit with a pretty good snow storm here in Wyoming, hope it's headed south in a hurry you need it worse than we do right now. Damn!
Snow here in SD too, Panhead. So dry everywhere. Thinking of everyone in harms way. Hang in there and be safe.
My wife Cindy has relatives in the Pueblo, CO area hope every1 keeps us updated as to what's going on with the Fire, TY NBC News for the News too.
searay3000- you are an idiot! People are loosing their homes to fires and you think it's nothing!! What a dweeb!! I live here and I was shocked and cried at the Colorado Springs fire and it's over 100 miles away from me! This one is a tad bit closer but still no danger to me but does that mean I shouldn't have empathy for those that are directly affected by these tragedies!? It's called caring for your fellow man! Yes we have problems else where but we still have devastation's like this here at home! Open your heart!
@ General Lee- thank you for your prayers!!!
@schoolyard- thank you for your kind thoughts! I've never been real close to one. I was out of state when one burned close by but I still followed it on the news and facebook. They are terrifying!
@usedupbrain- my thoughts exactly!!!
Hope you get rain or snow there,,Good luck
I think the writer mixed things up a bit:
Residences not residents. According to reports last night and this morning they had no idea how many people had been evacuated since realtively few had shown up at the evacuation shelters.
Thursday 20% chance of snow and Friday 40%.
I work on and "incident management team" that handles disasters, especially wildfires. Please, in the event of a disaster, go to the evacuation shelter and check in. You don't have to stay there, it just helps us know who got out! If folks would do that, we don't have to worry about are people still in there or not. Just a little hint to make things go more smoothly. Also, have a neutral party (like your aunt in Iowa) that you can call if you can't get ahold of family/friends in the immediate area. Many times the local phones are jammed but you can get out long distance. That way, if everyone checks in with their "Aunt Mildred" she can relay to everyone in the family where everyone else is.
Hope for rain or snow. Last report said no injuries reported yet,hope it stays that way.
Critical times hard to deal with, will be here.
Really Searay3000 I live 80 miles from this fire and I live in Colorado Springs and went through the Waldo Canyon fire good people lost their homes in that fire, families are displaced, animals are displaced, and a lot of wildlife being lost, 1000 of acres of forest land burning. Really bring politics into this tragedy. OMG like all MSN should have to talk about is politics. I don't think you have ever experienced a wildfire, Its your worst nightmare.
Thanks to all the other comments about hoping we get rain or snow we could use all the prayers we can get .
I am currently 10 miles from this fire and I hope it rains or snows tomorrow, it doesn't look too promising right now. The fire is currently at 15% containment with over 2100 acres and 14 homes destroyed or damaged.