June 16, 2018 - 10:52 AM
DURANGO, Colo. - The Latest on wildfires burning in the West (all times local):
10:30 a.m.
Water-scooping planes are joining the fight against a wildfire in Wyoming.
However, their work could get easier amid forecasts for heavy rain over the next several days.
Firefighters said Saturday a half-inch (1 centimetre) of rain could fall on the area in southeastern Wyoming.
The blaze has forced the evacuation of dozens of homes and summer cabins near the Colorado line.
Firefighters say they're making progress but the fire still isn't contained after burning over 23 square miles (60 square kilometres).
Two Bombardier "Super Scooper" planes are skimming water from a nearby lake to dump on the fire. The Laramie Boomerang says each plane can carry 1,250 gallons (4,730 litres) of water.
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10:15 a.m.
Rain is in the forecast for an area of Colorado hit hard by a wildfire but officials warn that could also mean flash flooding.
Over 51 square miles (133 square kilometres) have burned near Durango and the fire is just 20 per cent contained.
The Durango Herald reports authorities have lifted evacuation orders for more than 800 homes and businesses in southwestern Colorado. Hundreds of homes remain evacuated.
Heavy rain could now create new problems in the burned area, which has much less vegetation to hold back runoff.
The National Weather Service says up to an inch (2 centimetres) of rain could fall Saturday. La Plata County Emergency Management Director Butch Knowlton says a small amount of rain can cause severe flooding.
Knowlton says flooding could prompt new evacuations.
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Information from: Durango Herald, http://www.durangoherald.com
News from © The Associated Press, 2018