Firefighters are making progress on a wildfire in Colorado that has now consumed an estimated 4,140 acres, destroyed 27 structures and caused the deaths of at least two people, according to the Colorado State Forest Service.
The fire, which may have been sparked by a prescribed burn conducted by the Colorado State Forest Service and ignited by high winds on Monday, is now 15 percent contained, according to the latest report from fire officials.
“Firefighters continue constructing containment line around the fire while suppressing spot fires inside the fire’s perimeter,” according to a statement from the Forest Service.
The Lower North Fork wildfire in Jefferson County forced the evacuation of more than 900 homes, though some of those people were allowed to return to their residences on Thursday.
More than 680 personnel have been assigned to the fire, with air support resources including a CSFS SEAT plane dropping fire retardant and three National Guard helicopters conducting water drops.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has been assisting with funding and firefighting activities. FEMA Urban Search and Rescue is conducting a search for one person still missing in the area.
There are no estimates available yet on insured losses.
A story on USAToday.com reports that some residents in the path of the wildfire weren’t warned to flee because of a problem with an automated call system.
The bodies of 77-year-old Sam Lamar Lucas and 76-year-old Linda M. Lucas were found at their burned-down home, and a Jefferson County Sherriff spokeswoman told USA Today the couple received an evacuation call, but it was not clear when.
Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire
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