Belfast Telegraph

Friday 14 March 2014

US wildfire destroys 346 homes

A water dropping helicopter makes a run over a plume of smoke rises form the Waldo Canyon wildfire west of Colorado Springs (AP)


Amid the devastation in the foothills of Colorado Springs, there were hopeful signs. Flames advancing on the US Air Force Academy were stopped and cooler conditions could help slow the fire.

Colorado Springs, the state's second-largest city, is home to the US Olympic Training Centre, NORAD and the Air Force Space Command, which operates military satellites. They were not threatened.

President Barack Obama will tour fire-stricken areas on Friday.

From above, the destruction becomes painfully clear. Rows and rows of houses were reduced to smouldering ashes even as some homes just feet away survived largely intact.

On one street, all but three houses had burned to their foundations, said Ryan Schneider, whose home is still standing in a neighbourhood where 51 others were destroyed. "I was real happy at first. My wife was happy," he said. "The emotion of seeing the other homes, though, was instant sadness."


As of mid-day Thursday, the fire was 10% contained. The cost of fighting the blaze had already reached 3.2 million US dollars (£2.5 million).

Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach said the 346 estimate could change. A fire in northern Colorado, which is still burning, destroyed 257 homes and on Thursday became the most destructive in state history.

For now, Mr Bach said, the news of the destruction would make it very difficult for the city about 60 miles (96km) south of Denver.

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