Colorado wildfire kills two, destroys hundreds of homes
Firefighters battled on Thursday to control a wildfire that Colorado officials say is the most destructive blaze in the state’s history. At least two people have been killed and at least 360 homes have been destroyed, with the fire continuing to burn.
- A structure off Herring Road burns to the ground in Colorado Springs, Colorado. An estimated 360 homes have been destroyed as the Black Forest fire roared through Colorado. (Michael Ciaglo/Colorado Springs Gazette/MCT Photo)
- An aerial view of a burnt Jeep with its wheels turned to liquid in the aftermath of the Black Forest Fire in Black Forest, Colorado June 13, 2013. Hundreds of firefighters made a determined stand on Thursday to stop the wildfire that has already destroyed some 360 homes from roaring into the outskirts of Colorado Springs after it billowed overnight into the most destructive blaze in state history. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)
- Flames from the Black Forest fire flare up into the sky off Highway 83 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Thursday, June 13, 2013. (Michael Ciaglo/Colorado Springs Gazette/MCT Photo)
- A slurry bomber makes a pass over the Black Forest fire, Thursday, June 13, 2013, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Michael Ciaglo/Colorado Springs Gazette/MCT Photo)
- An aerial view of a destroyed house surrounded by dense forest in the aftermath of the Black Forest Fire in Black Forest, Colorado June 13, 2013. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)
- An aerial view of a destroyed house in the aftermath of the Black Forest Fire in Black Forest, Colorado June 13, 2013. Hundreds of firefighters made a determined stand on Thursday to stop the wildfire that has already destroyed some 360 homes from roaring into the outskirts of Colorado Springs after it billowed overnight into the most destructive blaze in state history. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)
- A detached garage smolders after being burned by the quickly advancing Black Forest fire in Colorado Springs Colorado, Thursday, June 13, 2013. (Michael Ciaglo/Colorado Springs Gazette/MCT Photo)
- Farm equipment destroyed in a fire that’s been burning since Tuesday near Colorado Springs is shown June 13, 2013 in Black Forest, Colorado. (Tom Cooper/Getty Images)
- A shell of an automobile destroyed in a fire that’s been burning since Tuesday near Colorado Springs sits by the side of the road June 13, 2013 in Black Forest, Colorado. (Tom Cooper/Getty Images)
- A house sits undamaged in the aftermath of the Black Forest Fire in Black Forest, Colorado June 13, 2013. Hundreds of firefighters made a determined stand on Thursday to stop the wildfire that has already destroyed some 360 homes from roaring into the outskirts of Colorado Springs after it billowed overnight into the most destructive blaze in state history. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)
- An aerial view of a destroyed house in the aftermath of the Black Forest Fire in Black Forest, Colorado June 13, 2013. Hundreds of firefighters made a determined stand on Thursday to stop the wildfire that has already destroyed some 360 homes from roaring into the outskirts of Colorado Springs after it billowed overnight into the most destructive blaze in state history. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)
- An aerial view of the Black Forest fire with the Rocky Mountains in the background in Black Forest, Colorado June 13, 2013. Hundreds of firefighters made a determined stand on Thursday to stop the wildfire that has already destroyed some 360 homes from roaring into the outskirts of Colorado Springs after it billowed overnight into the most destructive blaze in state history. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)
- Suzanne and Matt Dubois watch flames from the Black Forest fire creep closer to the Flying Horse neighborhood on Thursday, June 13, 2013, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Michael Ciaglo/Colorado Springs Gazette/MCT Photo)
- An aerial view of burned out vehicles in the aftermath of the Black Forest Fire in Black Forest, Colorado June 13, 2013. Hundreds of firefighters made a determined stand on Thursday to stop the wildfire that has already destroyed some 360 homes from roaring into the outskirts of Colorado Springs after it billowed overnight into the most destructive blaze in state history. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)
- Flames continue to burn through the night early Thursday morning, June 13, 2013, as crews work to contain the Black Forest fire in Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Michael Ciaglo/Colorado Springs Gazette/MCT Photo)
- A fire that’s been burning since Tuesday continues to consume acreage near Colorado Springs June 13, 2013 in Black Forest, Colorado. (Tom Cooper/Getty Images)
- A fire that’s been burning since Tuesday continues to consume acreage near Colorado Springs, June 13, 2013 in Black Forest, Colorado. (Tom Cooper/Getty Images)
- Flames continue to burn through the night into early Thursday morning, June 13, 2013, as crews work to contain the Black Forest fire in Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Michael Ciaglo/Colorado Springs Gazette/MCT Photo)
- In this handout photo provided by the U.S. Army, Pilots and crewmembers of the United States Army release water onto the burning fires during their bambi bucket mission on June 12, 2013 in Black Forest, Colorado. The fire has burned over 15,000 acres, and has claimed 360 homes, forcing at least 38,000 people to evacuate. (Photo by Sgt. Jonathan C. Thibault/U.S. Army via Getty Images)
- An aerial photo shows the aftermath of a wildfire that burned homes in Black Forest community near Colorado Springs, Colorado June 12 2013. (John Wark/Reuters)
- Tom Smith works to remove tree limbs to protect a friend’s home from advancing flames on June 12 during Black Forest fire in Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Mark Reis/Colorado Springs Gazette/MCT)
- An aerial photo shows a wildfire burning homes in Black Forest community near Colorado Springs, Colorado on June 11 2013. (John Wark/Reuters)
- An aerial photo shows a wildfire burning homes in the Black Forest community near Colorado Springs, Colorado June 11 2013. (John Wark/Reuters)
- An aerial photo shows a wildfire burning near Colorado Springs, Colorado on June 11 2013. (John Wark/Reuters)
Two killed as monster wildfire threatens Colorado Springs
Keith Coffman, Reuters
7:29 a.m. EDT, June 14, 2013
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The remains of two people killed trying to flee the most destructive Colorado wildfire on record were found on Thursday as crews fought to keep the fierce, wind-driven blaze from roaring into the outskirts of Colorado Springs.
The blaze has ripped across more than 24 square miles of rolling, forested terrain northeast of Colorado Springs since it erupted on Tuesday, forcing some 38,000 people to flee their homes.
El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa said the dead, who have not been publicly identified, were recovered on Thursday from the garage of one of at least 360 homes destroyed by the so-called Black Forest Fire near the state’s second-largest city.