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Colorado firefighters await break in weather; calmer winds helpful

2 min read

BEULAH, Colo. (AP) – Firefighters hoped for a prolonged break in the weather Monday while anxious evacuees waited for news about an 11,000-acre wildfire that chased 5,000 people from their southern Colorado homes. “It’s a nasty one. We hope the weather will cut us a break in the next couple of days,” U.S. Forest Service spokesman Dave Steinke said.

Winds already were calmer and the humidity higher Monday, he said.

The blaze threatened 750 houses, outbuildings and other structures in Beulah and surrounding ranching country, nestled in dry terrain in mountains about 150 miles south of Denver.

No injuries had been reported and no homes had burned.

Residents forced from their homes met for coffee and searched for news.

“Sitting around, waiting to see if your house is going to burn down is the strangest feeling,” said Angie Griggs, 49.

“Now we’re just laughing about it because what else can you do? You can’t cry,” said Griggs.

More than 420 people, nine air tankers, five helicopters and 24 fire trucks were on the scene. Gov. Bill Owens declared a state of emergency for the fire area and put National Guard helicopters on standby.

In South Dakota, a wildfire blackened more than 3,000 acres in the Piedmont area of the Black Hills, destroying a mobile home, a motor home and an outbuilding.

On the Net:

National Interagency Fire Center: http://www.nifc.gov

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