Wildfires have moved in on some of Colorado's most popular summer tourist destinations, demolishing nearly two dozen homes near Rocky Mountain National Park and emptying hotels and campgrounds at the base of Pikes Peak.
A wildfire burning out of control near Colorado Springs has scorched more than 3 square miles. At least 11,000 residents of the town of Manitou Springs and three nearby communities have been ordered to leave.
Tinder-dry conditions, gusty winds and temperatures in the 90s have been feeding eight fires across the state. The biggest is burning west of Fort Collins, where more than 118 square miles has been scorched and at least 191 homes destroyed.
Gov. John Hickenlooper says C-130 military transport planes from Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs will begin assisting firefighting efforts tomorrow.
Elsewhere in the West, firefighters have been reporting progress against wildfires in Utah, New Mexico and California.
