Heavy smoke from the Junkins Fire billows across the foothills along Siloam Road west of Pueblo, Colo., Monday, Oct. 17, 2016. (AP Photo, Chris McLean/The Pueblo Chieftain via AP)
Republished October 18, 2016 - 7:45 PM
Original Publication Date October 18, 2016 - 7:05 AM
WESTCLIFFE, Colo. - The Latest on a wildfire burning in southern Colorado (all times local):
8:10 p.m.
Colorado's governor has ordered the National Guard to help fight a wildfire that destroyed five homes and forced hundreds of people to evacuate.
Two Black Hawk helicopters began dropping water on the fire from large fabric buckets Tuesday after Gov. John Hickenlooper issued his order.
The Guard's top commander, Maj. Gen. H. Michael Edwards, says the helicopters will fly firefighting missions as long as they are needed.
The fire is burning east of the small town of Westcliffe near the Rocky Mountain foothills in southern Colorado.
The Pueblo County Sheriff's Office says the fire started when high winds blew a metal building into a power line.
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6:45 p.m.
Authorities say a wildfire in southern Colorado has destroyed five homes and hundreds of people remain under evacuation orders.
The Pueblo County Sheriff's Department said Tuesday the fire had scorched more than 25 square miles.
The sheriff's department says the fire started when high winds blew a metal outbuilding into a power line.
In addition to the homes, 13 outbuildings have been destroyed.
Crews were trying to block the flames with fire lines, but authorities said the blaze was still uncontained Tuesday night.
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10:50 a.m.
Firefighters are working to stop the spread of a wildfire that has forced the evacuation of hundreds of people in southern Colorado and destroyed at least two homes.
Taking advantage of light winds Tuesday morning, crews were building containment lines to stop the fire from spreading ahead of stronger winds expected later in the day.
The winds still aren't expected to be as fierce as on Monday, when the fire started and spread to 24 square miles.
Authorities had earlier reported that one home had been burned but on Tuesday confirmed that a second one had been lost.
Fire spokeswoman Dawn Sanchez says officials hope to get a better view Tuesday of the damage caused by the fire.
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7:55 a.m.
Cooler and calmer weather Tuesday should help crews fighting a southern Colorado wildfire that has forced the evacuation of hundreds of people and destroyed one home.
The fire was reported before dawn Monday east of Westcliffe and gusty winds helped it grow to 24 square miles by the end of the day. The winds also grounded water-dropping helicopters.
Both helicopters and air tankers that drop fire retardant have been dispatched to the fire, which has destroyed five outbuildings and one home.
News from © The Associated Press, 2016