Massive wildfire forces thousands to evacuate near Denver, Colorado

A wildfire in southern Colorado forced thousands of people to leave their homes last week, destroying more than 160 buildings. The Aspen Acres fire broke out southwest of Denver, burning across Pueblo and Custer counties. Authorities ordered the entire town of Colorado City, around 2,200 residents, to evacuate, along with people from Beulah, Rye, and San Isabel. Strong, unpredictable winds caused the fire to grow rapidly, spreading 17 square miles in a single night. Firefighters had made no progress containing the blaze by the time reports were filed. Around 50 National Guard soldiers were sent to manage checkpoints and support emergency teams. Months of dry weather and an unusually low snowfall last winter created the dangerous conditions. The Aspen Acres fire was one of roughly 40 large uncontrolled wildfires burning across the western United States at the same time.