Black Forest Fire Over 15,000 Acres, 360 Homes Lost

Three hundred and sixty homes have been lost to the Black Forest Fire, north of Colorado Springs. One of several fires burning in Colorado, it has burnt more than fifteen thousand acres. Luckily, no injuries or fatalities have been reported due to the fire.

It is being called the most destructive fire in state history, due to it's having burnt the most homes.

Almost a thousand fire fighters are battling the blaze, including members of the Colorado National Guard and Air Force Academy. They are being aided by air tankers and helicopters. A federal Type 1 Command Team took command, Thursday morning, and more resources from other states are on the way.

Thursday saw a large increase in humidity, which aided firefighting efforts, but also saw an increase in winds. Winds also switched direction causing an increase in the evacuation areas.

Nearly forty thousand homes have been ordered evacuated, including parts of Colorado Springs, and many more are on standby.

The mandatory evacuation area stretches from North Gate and Old North Gate Road, in the north; Voyager Parkway, on the west; Flying Horse Club Drive to include homes south of Flying Horse Club Drive on Barossa Valley Road and Veneto Wary/Vine Cliff Heights/Equinox Drive/Serenity Peak Drive, to the south; and Highway 83, at the east.

Various roads around that area have been closed, to ensure no one gets in the way of emergency personnel. That includes a partial closure of a stretch of  Interstate 25, from Interquest to Baptist.

Several other areas are on voluntary evacuation status. Members of the Colorado National Guard are assisting police in ensuring that no looting occurs in the evacuated areas.

Air quality advisories have spread all along the front range. Burn bans are going into effect in many areas, because of the fires.