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Colorado wildfire tears through 4,000 acres

The Schoonover Gulch fire burns Wednesday near Deckers, Colorado.
The Schoonover Gulch fire burns Wednesday near Deckers, Colorado.  


DECKERS, Colorado (CNN) -- A wildfire burned out of control overnight in the Pike National Forest southwest of Denver, Colorado, threatening more than 300 homes and 20 commercial buildings, a U.S. Forest Service official said.

The Schoonover fire had burned 4,000 acres by Wednesday night after making a 2,500-acre run between noon and 7 p.m., according to fire information officer Pete Davis. The blaze burned intensely, fueled by 50 mph winds. The fire started the day at 500 acres.

Some mandatory evacuations are in effect.

Four air tankers, four helicopters and eleven 20-person crews worked the wildfire in a remote, steep and rocky area of the national forest about 35 miles southwest of Denver. Davis said the air assault on the fire would resume Thursday morning.

The blaze began Tuesday and may have been caused by lightning, fire officials said. The flames were burning Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir.



 
 
 
 







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