Uncontrolled Colorado Wildfire Kills One

Lower North Fork Fire has burned more than 3K acres
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 27, 2012 11:40 AM CDT
Uncontrolled Colorado Wildfire Kills One
A YouTube screenshot showing the Lower North Fork Fire.   (RickL5280Fire)

A wildfire in Colorado was still burning uncontrolled this morning after claiming the life of one person, the Denver Post reports. The 3,050-acre Lower North Fork Fire has also destroyed as many as 25 structures in the mountains west of Denver, and winds of up to 45mph will likely hamper fire crews today. High winds were also a factor as the fire spread yesterday, scorching 3,000 acres in hours. The blaze was sparked by a controlled burn set a week ago, which smoldered and reignited.

The burn area "is likely to go higher" today, a sheriff's office spokesperson says. Nine hundred phone calls went out last night telling residents to evacuate, and about 25 people spent the night at a high school shelter. Officials are asking for air support today and will also have help from 450 firefighters from other areas. The victim found dead in the fire zone yesterday has not been named, and an autopsy will be done to determine cause of death. (More Colorado stories.)

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