The Frame: Colorado wildfire destroys dozens of homes

The Frame: Colorado wildfire destroys dozens of homes


Firefighters encountered a tangle of rattlesnakes, downed power lines and combustible propane tanks Wednesday as they struggled to get an upper hand on a wildfire that has destroyed dozens of homes. About 3,500 people have been evacuated from about 1,000 homes since the 6,168-acre fire broke out in a parched area north of Boulder on Monday. Four people remained missing as residents stayed behind and risked their lives to try to save their homes. The blaze has burned 140 structures -- including at least 53 homes. The figure is expected to rise as authorities survey more of the fire area, which covers about 10 square miles. Firefighters took advantage of cooler temperatures and cloud cover to attack the wildfire but authorities acknowledged they still don't have control of a blaze that could become one of the most destructive in Colorado history. Fire conditions were expected to worsen Thursday night into Friday and the risk of any new fires quickly spreading was high along the populated Front Range region, according to the National Weather Service. (25 images)