Colorado Springs Fire Chief Rich Brown described the blaze as "a fire of epic proportions," as tens of thousands of Colorado residents and tourists have been evacuated ahead of the growing, potentially disastrous Waldo Canyon fire. This fire joins several others across the state, including the High Park fire, which has consumed nearly 90,000 acres since June 9. While no reports of deaths or injuries have surfaced, hundreds of homes have been destroyed, with many more threatened. Fire crews are doing their best to contain the fires and save what homes they can, as authorities urged residents to flee affected areas.
'Epic' Colorado Wildfires
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The downtown skyline of Denver, Colorado, obscured by smoke from the many wildfires burning in the state, on June 24, 2012. Firefighters in Western U.S. states struggled to contain out-of-control wind-stoked wildfires across the U.S. west as summer temperatures mounted, and a fresh blaze consumed more homes in Colorado. #
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Smoke from the Waldo Canyon fire engulfs I-25 north of Colorado Springs, causing a traffic congestion, in Colorado, on June 26, 2012. A monster Colorado wildfire raging near some of the most visited tourist areas in the state took a turn for the worse on Tuesday as hot winds pushed flames north, prompting the evacuation of 7,000 more people, officials said. #
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A tree erupts into flames in the Waldo Canyon fire west of Colorado Springs, on June 26, 2012. A fast-growing wildfire in Colorado forced 11,000 people from their homes at least briefly and threatened popular summer camping grounds beneath Pikes Peak. #
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Flames from the Waldo Canyon Fire cause the western side of Colorado Springs, Colorado, to glow as several structures burn on June 26, 2012. A stubborn and towering wildfire jumped firefighters' perimeter lines in the hills overlooking Colorado Springs, forcing frantic mandatory evacuation notices for more than 9,000 residents. #
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People watch the front range burn from I-25 looking west, as the Waldo Canyon Fire burns across the western side of Colorado Springs, on June 26, 2012. The fire made a massive run late in the day leaving a trail of destruction, and burning homes and buildings in it's path. #
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Nebraska National Guard crewmembers of Company C 2nd-135th General Support Aviation Battalion dump water from a Bambi bucket onto flames of the High Park fire west of Fort Collins, in this June 18, 2012 photo. The blaze, which started on June 9, was caused by a lightning strike, has torched over 65,000 acres to date. #
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A heavy air tanker drops fire retardant on the High Park fire west of Fort Collins, in this June 19, 2012 photo. The blaze, which started on June 9, was caused by a lightning strike, had torched over 65,000 acres as of June 19. #
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Firefighters from the Monument, Colorado Fire department march to dinner at sunset in a base camp near the High Park wildfire about 15 miles west of Fort Collins, on June 19, 2012. #
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Smoke billows from a wildfire west of Colorado Springs, on Saturday, June 23, 2012. The fire had grown to an estimated 600 acres and The Gazette reports authorities are evacuating the exclusive Cedar Heights neighborhood as well as the Garden of the Gods nature center. #
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The skies are orange as flames from the Waldo Canyon Fire race through a neighborhood in west Colorado Springs, on, June 26, 2012 leaving a trail of destruction, burning homes and buildings in its path. #
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