Forest fires have spread rapidly in the U.S. state of Colorado, which could have burned more than 500 homes, officials said Thursday.
At least 1,600 acres (646 acres) of land were burned in the Boulder area of the state. Warnings have been issued of possible deaths and injuries as the fire swept through hotels and shopping malls in the city of Superior.
“We know that about 370 homes have been lost in the Sagamora area. “210 homes in the Old Town of South America are likely to have been lost,” said Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle at a news conference.
The Colorado Sun reported that several people had been treated for burns, and at least six of them had been hospitalized.
Thousands of people were called to flee the fast-moving fire. Fires are thought to have broken out when gusts of wind knocked down power lines.
Colorado has been experiencing droughts for years, making it vulnerable to forest fires.
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