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Moist air encourages Colorado firefighters
CASTLE ROCK, Colorado (AP) -- Cool, moist air moved into Colorado overnight, raising hopes for firefighters battling two wind-whipped wildfires that forced thousands to flee and threatened hundreds of homes. At least three helicopters, two air tankers and fresh ground crews were called in. The blazes erupted Wednesday and quickly overmatched firefighters. "We've not been fighting fire too much today. We've been running from it and running ahead of it, trying to get people out of harm's way," Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle said late Wednesday. The Overland fire in the foothills northwest of Boulder raced across 4,000 acres, burning an unknown number of structures and threatening the historic mining village of Jamestown. Residents of about 300 homes in the area were ordered to evacuate. A second fire swept across 800 acres of piney hills in the suburbs of far south Denver, threatening 300 to 400 homes. Evacuations of 3,000 homes and businesses were ordered. Both fires were believed to have been started by damaged power lines. One firefighter on the southern fire was treated for a minor injury. The cold front that spread across the state wasn't expected to bring rain or snow, except in the mountains. But it did bring higher humidity, and it calmed the savage winds that at one point whipped up 100-foot flames and forced firefighters off the Jamestown fire. The flames had moved away from town late Wednesday, and firefighters set up a defensive line five miles from the village. Others stood guard over houses in the foothills north and east of town. Sirens sounded the evacuation call shortly before noon, and a shelter was set up at the Boulder County Fairgrounds in Longmont, 15 miles to the east, for both people and livestock. Some residents wept as they drove away.
South of Denver, firefighters used the break in the weather to map a strategy to spare the pricey homes in the flames' path. Five subdivisions were ordered evacuated, creating chaos as drivers moved their SUVs, luxury cars and other vehicles onto a handful of streets leading out. Helicopters hovered above the smoky haze and the sound of sirens filled the air. "I'm going to get my wife and kids to a safe place, then I'm coming back," said John Stevens, a 38-year-old chiropractor. "I'll be here, guns loaded, ready for looters." No decision had been made on when to let the evacuees return. The Federal Emergency Management Agency approved a request from Gov. Bill Owens for federal resources to fight the fires. Owens said he also offered to dispatch National Guard helicopters. Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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