Waldo Canyon Fire Still Raging

(Colorado Springs, CO)  –  The explosive Waldo Canyon Fire in
Colorado Springs continues to burn out of control.  Forest Service
officials say yesterday’s weather conditions pushed the nearly
16-thousand-acre blaze faster than firefighters could handle.  Fire
crews were forced to fall back as high winds and dry conditions pushed
the flames forward.  More evacuations were ordered yesterday, raising
the number of displaced residents to about 35-thousand.  Officials
estimate the blaze has burned between 200 and 300 homes since it
ignited Saturday.  So far, no injuries are being reported.   The fire
is “not even remotely close to being contained.”

Meanwhile, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper is working with
President Obama on an expedited declaration of emergency to use
federal funds for the firefighting efforts.  The President is expected
to examine those efforts first-hand when he flies to Colorado
tomorrow.  The Waldo Canyon fire is just one of more than a dozen
raging across Colorado.  The largest is still the High Park blaze that
has scorched more than 87-thousand acres near Fort Collins.  An
estimated 43-hundred people have been evacuated from homes there.