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| Colorado wildfires: Tens of thousands evacuated as blazes spread | Colorado wildfires: Tens of thousands evacuated as blazes spread |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| While previous fires in Colorado have been in rural areas, these latest blazes are taking place in towns | While previous fires in Colorado have been in rural areas, these latest blazes are taking place in towns |
| Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated and hundreds of homes have been destroyed as wildfires spread through the US state of Colorado. | Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated and hundreds of homes have been destroyed as wildfires spread through the US state of Colorado. |
| The fast-moving fires are burning in Boulder County, north of Denver, and officials say deaths and injuries are likely as the blazes spread further. | The fast-moving fires are burning in Boulder County, north of Denver, and officials say deaths and injuries are likely as the blazes spread further. |
| Some 30,000 people in the towns of Louisville and Superior were told to leave their homes on Thursday. | Some 30,000 people in the towns of Louisville and Superior were told to leave their homes on Thursday. |
| Meanwhile, a state of emergency has been declared by Governor Jared Polis. | Meanwhile, a state of emergency has been declared by Governor Jared Polis. |
| "This fire is not so much a question of resources," he told a press conference. "This fire is a force of nature." | "This fire is not so much a question of resources," he told a press conference. "This fire is a force of nature." |
| "We hope that the winds die down, that the weather changes," he added. "But for those who are directly affected, know that you don't stand alone." | "We hope that the winds die down, that the weather changes," he added. "But for those who are directly affected, know that you don't stand alone." |
| Winds of up to 105 mph (169 kph) are sweeping flames across the region following a historic drought. | |
| And while previous fires in Colorado have been in rural areas, these latest blazes are taking place in more suburban parts of the state. | And while previous fires in Colorado have been in rural areas, these latest blazes are taking place in more suburban parts of the state. |
| At least some were sparked when power lines were toppled by strong winds, and they have quickly become the most destructive wildfires in the modern history of the state. | |
| Fires have ripped through the town of Louisville | Fires have ripped through the town of Louisville |
| Some 370 homes went up in flames west of Superior and 210 were lost in the Old Town area of Superior, Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle said. | Some 370 homes went up in flames west of Superior and 210 were lost in the Old Town area of Superior, Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle said. |
| A shopping complex and hotel were also fully engulfed. | A shopping complex and hotel were also fully engulfed. |
| At least one first responder and six others were injured, Sheriff Pelle said, adding that more casualties were likely. | At least one first responder and six others were injured, Sheriff Pelle said, adding that more casualties were likely. |
| One video taken outside a supermarket showed a dramatic scene as winds ripped through the car park. | One video taken outside a supermarket showed a dramatic scene as winds ripped through the car park. |
| This video from Colorado’s Marshall fire is terrifying. pic.twitter.com/AWqBvs9lWX | This video from Colorado’s Marshall fire is terrifying. pic.twitter.com/AWqBvs9lWX |
| Patrick Kilbride, 72, was at work in a hardware store when he heard the order to evacuate, The Denver Post reported. | Patrick Kilbride, 72, was at work in a hardware store when he heard the order to evacuate, The Denver Post reported. |
| He rushed home but only had time to gather a few possessions before the flames engulfed the property. His pet dog and cat both died. | He rushed home but only had time to gather a few possessions before the flames engulfed the property. His pet dog and cat both died. |
| "It's just a strange feeling to go from having everything to make your life comfortable to having nothing," he said. | "It's just a strange feeling to go from having everything to make your life comfortable to having nothing," he said. |
| Colorado has been experiencing extreme droughts in recent years. Climate change increases the risk of the hot, dry weather that is likely to fuel wildfires. | Colorado has been experiencing extreme droughts in recent years. Climate change increases the risk of the hot, dry weather that is likely to fuel wildfires. |
| The world has already warmed by about 1.2C since the industrial era began and temperatures will keep rising unless governments around the world make steep cuts to emissions. | The world has already warmed by about 1.2C since the industrial era began and temperatures will keep rising unless governments around the world make steep cuts to emissions. |