Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Wildfires burn in Colorado, Oklahoma

(CNN) -- Crews battled a fast-moving wildfire near Boulder, Colorado, early Tuesday, while fire teams in western Oklahoma had gained the upper hand there, emergency officials said.

"Approximately 3,000 residents are in the evacuation areas," Boulder's emergency management office said. "The Four Mile Canyon Fire is a wind-driven fire burning in steep, rocky, and hard to access terrain west and north of the City of Boulder."

The flames spread quickly through the highly populated region due to 45-mph wind gusts, said Cmdr. Rick Brough of the Boulder County Sheriff's Office.

iReport: Smoke visible over neighborhood

The winds initially grounded air tankers Monday, making containing the blaze more difficult, he said. Later in the day, three were able to fly. Air operations stopped at nightfall and will resume first thing on Tuesday morning.

"If the weather conditions continue that are favorable, we'll have seven air tankers flying" Tuesday, Brough told reporters.

About 1,000 homes were evacuated Monday, he said, and confirmed that structures have been lost to the fire, though he did not know how many. No injuries were reported.

The fire was moving northeast and causing nearby roads to be shutdown, Brough said, adding that officials were working to get firefighters into the area to contain the blaze.

About 100 firefighters were actively fighting the flames with an additional 75 in a staging area.

Firefighters are working in a "very rugged, steep area" that's difficult to access, contributing to the challenge, said Brough. He added it could take several days before the fire there is contained.

iReport: Smoke, heat near Boulder

Conditions were much improved early Tuesday in Woodward County, Oklahoma, where emergency officials have been responding to as many as five wildfires in the area since Sunday evening, when 40-mph winds began whipping through the region.

"All fires are about 90 to 95 percent contained," according to Matt Lehenbauer, director of emergency management for the county. He said most crews were sent home overnight to get some rest, but will be back on the fire lines Tuesday morning.

At least one home was destroyed in a 300-acre blaze near Fort Supply Lake in northwestern Oklahoma, Lehenbauer said. At least one firefighter suffered heat exhaustion in that fire, he said. No other injuries were reported.

Authorities believe embers from a campfire sparked the blaze. About 30 homes and 120 campsites were evacuated as a result of the fire.

Firefighters were also working a 1,200-acre blaze on the east side of the county, believed started by arcing utility lines, Lehenbauer said.

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