Current:Home > Contact-usWildfires encroach on homes near Denver as heat hinders fight-LoTradeCoin
Wildfires encroach on homes near Denver as heat hinders fight
View Date:2024-12-24 07:50:03
DENVER (AP) — A wildfire on the edge of metro Denver crept within a quarter-mile of evacuated homes, but authorities said Thursday morning they were hopeful to save hundreds of threatened residences as they grapple with sweltering temperatures and firefighters suffering heat exhaustion.
The fire was among several threatening heavily populated areas of the Colorado foothills, including one in which a person was killed earlier this week.
Almost 100 large fires are burning across the western U.S. The largest — Northern California’s Park Fire — has burned more than 400 houses and other structures, officials reported Thursday.
New large fires were reported in Idaho, southeast Montana and north Texas.
The Quarry Fire southwest of the Denver suburb of Littleton encroached on several large subdivisions. Neighborhoods with nearly 600 homes were ordered to evacuate after the fire of unknown origin spread quickly overnight Tuesday.
The fire had been held to less than a half-square mile (1.4 square kilometers) with no houses yet destroyed, authorities said. But officials said it remained a major danger with hot temperatures expected Thursday.
Five firefighters were injured Wednesday, including four who had heat exhaustion, said Mark Techmeyer with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
Just to the north near the city of Lyons, Colorado, officials reported making progress on the Stone Canyon Fire that has killed one person and destroyed five houses. The cause is under investigation.
California’s Park Fire continued to grow, covering about 610 square miles (1,590 square kilometers) as of Thursday morning. That’s more than 25 times the size of New York’s Manhattan Island.
Losses also increased. The latest updates tallied 437 structures destroyed and 42 damaged, according to Cal Fire. The fire was 18% contained.
___
Brown reported from Billings, Mont.
veryGood! (25)
Related
- Georgia House Democrats shift toward new leaders after limited election gains
- Starliner astronauts welcome Crew-9 team, and their ride home, to the space station
- Rebel Wilson and Ramona Agruma Make Debut as Married Couple During Paris Fashion Week
- Murders, mayhem and officer’s gunfire lead to charges at Brooklyn jail where ‘Diddy’ is held
- Bowl projections: SEC teams joins College Football Playoff field
- Trial on new Georgia election certification rules set to begin
- Hall of Fame center Dikembe Mutombo dies of brain cancer at 58
- Gavin Creel, Tony-winning Broadway star, dies at 48
- Minnesota man is free after 16 years in prison for murder that prosecutors say he didn’t commit
- Sing Sing Actor JJ Velazquez Exonerated of Murder Conviction After Serving Nearly 24 Years in Prison
Ranking
- About Charles Hanover
- NHTSA: Cruise to pay $1.5M penalty after failing to fully report crash involving pedestrian
- NHTSA: Cruise to pay $1.5M penalty after failing to fully report crash involving pedestrian
- Best Early Prime Day Home Deals: Prices as Low as $5.98 on Milk Frothers, Meat Thermometers & More
- Pistons' Ausar Thompson cleared to play after missing 8 months with blood clot
- Sabrina Carpenter Jokes About Her Role in Eric Adams’ Federal Investigation
- Man sentenced to nearly 200 years after Indiana triple homicide led to serial killer rumors
- Channing Tatum Admits He's Freaking Out Over Daughter Everly's Latest Milestone
Recommendation
-
Chris Wallace will leave CNN 3 years after defecting from 'Fox News Sunday'
-
Kris Kristofferson was ‘a walking contradiction,’ a renegade and pilgrim surrounded by friends
-
Britney Spears Shares She Burned Off Hair, Eyelashes and Eyebrows in Really Bad Fire Accident
-
North Carolina town bands together after Helene wreaked havoc: 'That's what we do'
-
Infowars auction could determine whether Alex Jones is kicked off its platforms
-
The Latest: Harris, Trump shift plans after Hurricane Helene’s destruction
-
Trump slams US response to Helene, even as supporters urge cutbacks to federal disaster agencies
-
The US is sending a few thousand more troops to the Middle East to boost security