Fires in Two Counties Force Hundreds to Flee
Wildfires fanned by wind destroyed at least five houses in Aguilar in southern Colorado and forced the evacuation of several hundred residents, authorities said.
Two fires had burned more than 5,400 acres in Huerfano and Las Animas counties, not far from the New Mexico line. One of them had started as a controlled burn earlier in the week and flared up again.
Wind gusting up to 50 mph prevented authorities from using airplanes to drop slurry on the fires, said Pam Martinez of the Huerfano County Sheriff’s Department.
“This just points out that we are very dry in Colorado, even though it’s winter,” said Barb Timock, a U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman.
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