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Hundreds of Colorado Springs homes destroyed in fire Hundreds of Colorado Springs homes destroyed in fire
(about 9 hours later)
Hundreds of homes in Colorado Springs have been destroyed by wildfires raging across six US states, officials said. Hundreds of homes in Colorado Springs have been destroyed amid an outbreak of wildfires that are raging across western US states.
About 346 homes were razed this week, making it the most destructive fire in the state's history, officials said.
More than 32,000 people have already fled Colorado's second biggest city after evacuation orders were issued.More than 32,000 people have already fled Colorado's second biggest city after evacuation orders were issued.
Shifting winds on Thursday made it difficult for about 800 firefighters to tackle the 29 sq m (75sq km) blaze, just one of many burning across the parched Midwest of the United States. Shifting winds on Thursday made it difficult for about 800 firefighters to tackle the 29 sq mile (75sq km) blaze.
President Barack Obama is due to tour the affected areas. President Barack Obama is due to tour the affected areas on Friday.
The full scale of the damage in Colorado remains unknown, as the flames and smoke are too thick to make an accurate analysis. Colorado accounts for eight of 35 large wildfires which are also raging in Montana, Utah, Wyoming, South Dakota, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona and California.
Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach said more accurate information would be available for residents worried about their homes later in the day.
Just weeks into the annual wildfire season, there are also fires in Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, California and Utah.
In Utah, a body was found in the ashes of a fast-moving wildfire to the south of Salt Lake City.In Utah, a body was found in the ashes of a fast-moving wildfire to the south of Salt Lake City.
'Epic firestorm'
On Wednesday, traffic and smoke choked the streets as people left Colorado Springs and a nearby US Air Force Academy.On Wednesday, traffic and smoke choked the streets as people left Colorado Springs and a nearby US Air Force Academy.
At a press briefing on Wednesday morning, officials in Colorado said fire crews had worked through the night. But the blaze was only 5% contained. The Waldo Canyon Fire, which began on Saturday, was fanned towards Colorado Springs by winds of up to 65mph (104km/h).
Dry, hot temperatures are expected to continue across much of the US this week, with little chance of rain.
The Waldo Canyon Fire, which began on Saturday, has been fanned towards Colorado Springs by winds of up to 65mph (104km/h).
"It was like looking at the worst movie set you could imagine," Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper said after surveying the fire from the air on Tuesday.
"It's almost surreal. You look at that, and it's like nothing I've seen before."
Fleeing residents covered their faces with T-shirts to breathe through the smoke.
"It took us an hour to drive a mile because of the traffic. It was really tense. As we were driving, the ash was falling out of the sky. We couldn't see the street because of the smoke," Colorado Springs resident Hillory Davis, 22, told the BBC.
Meanwhile, Richard Brown, the Colorado Springs fire chief, described the blaze as a "firestorm of epic proportions".
The city of 419,000 people is Colorado's second largest, situated just off the main north-south highway.The city of 419,000 people is Colorado's second largest, situated just off the main north-south highway.
It is home to the sprawling campus of the US Air Force Academy, the top school for cadets joining the Air Force.It is home to the sprawling campus of the US Air Force Academy, the top school for cadets joining the Air Force.
On Wednesday afternoon, academy officials said the fire had spread to about 10 acres of the campus. Some 2,100 people were evacuated from base housing overnight.On Wednesday afternoon, academy officials said the fire had spread to about 10 acres of the campus. Some 2,100 people were evacuated from base housing overnight.
Firefighters from the Air Force and local crews were trying to stop the blaze reaching the academy.
Elsewhere in Colorado, the High Park fire in the west of the state has been burning for weeks and remains barely half contained, although fewer homes are under imminent threat.
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