Wetmore Fire Grows Overnight Prompting Hundreds Of Evacuations, Burns Multiple Structures

Wetmore Fire Grows Overnight, Forces Hundreds To Evacuate

The Wetmore Fire burning west of Pueblo, Colorado grew overnight spreading across more than 1,700 acres and forcing the evacuation of 386 people in the area. Twelve structures have burned, but no injuries have been reported.

The fire started burning late on Tuesday due to winds gusting up to 79 mph, according to The Associated Press, and is approximately one mile west of the town of Wetmore threatening over 300 homes.

CBS4 reports that as of Wednesday morning firefighters have no containment on the blaze and that high winds are expected to continue today.

"It is wind-related... we don't think it is human-caused," Custer County Sheriff Fred Jobe told The Denver Post. "When you have wind gusts up to 65 miles per hour, these things happen."

The cause of the fire is officially still under investigation, but there have been reports that strong winds may have caused a short in a nearby power line or that a possible structure fire started it.

FEMA has approved emergency funding and air support has been ordered, but the strong winds may keep the fleet grounded still on Wednesday, 7News reports.

The National Weather Service has reported 20 mph to 75 mph winds in southern Colorado on Wednesday.

Evacuees have been sent to Southern Baptist Church in Florence.

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Colorado Wildfires 2012

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