CANON CITY, Colo. -- A wildfire, now estimated at 4,400 acres, has burned between 60 and 100 structures, authorities confirmed Monday evening. They were backing off a 100 home figure released earlier.

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An earlier 7,000 acre figure was reported as an estimated size, based upon ground observations.

The more accurate calcuation of 4,400 acres was completed after a helicopter flight around the fire perimeter, using a Global Position System.

Firefighters reported that it was 5 percent contained by Monday evening.

The blaze is burning out of control just west of Canon City, near the popular Royal Gorge Bridge attraction.

Winds, estimated at 30 mph with gusts of 45 mph, are hampering firefighting efforts, 7NEWS Anchor Mitch Jelniker reported. Although air tankers have not been grounded, a red flag warning has been issued and reporters have been kept far away from the scene because of the fire's volatility.

Humidity is at 4 to 6 percent in the area and temperatures remain high.

The blaze was burning in Pinon, Juniper grass, Ponderosa Pine and Gambel Oak.

According to Fremont County Sheriff's Office, about 100 homes had burned. A list of affected structures has been posted at the Red Cross Shelter at Cotapaxi School and is available at the Sheriff's Office in Canon City.

The quickly growing fire forced additional evacuations on Monday.

Residents living along County Roads 27A to 3A and from 19th Trail to County Road 28 (in the Deer Mountain subdivision) were forced to leave their homes on Monday.

This is in addition to the hundreds of others living in the Deer Mountain and Temple Canon Road subdivisions who were evacuated Sunday. For more information on evacuees, call the Red Cross at (719) 942-4131.

A community meeting at Cotapaxi School has been set for 7 p.m. to address homeowner's concerns.

Barb Masinton of the U.S. Forest Service said a Type I management team, considered the most experienced group of firefighters, was on the front lines Monday afternoon to oversee the effort.

Luckily, no injuries have been reported.

Fire Explodes Sunday

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The Iron Mountain Fire exploded Sunday afternoon in Fremont County, 1 mile north of the Custer County line, 12 to 15 miles south of Canon City.

High winds quickly pushed it north and east, expanding from 200 acres to as much as 7,000 acres within a span of one-half day.

With the work of slurry bombers, bulldozers and more than 100 firefighters, 30 homes were saved on Sunday.

Volunteer fire units from nearby communities were called in to help the Forest Service battle the blaze.

Thick smoke and the threat of the fire spreading also forced the evacuation of nearby Royal Gorge Park, site of the world's highest suspension bridge.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but homeowner Don Kirkland told 7NEWS that he saw the fire start and it began with a "blown over three-legged barbecue."

"When we got back to our place, I walked over and, sure enough, there was the three-legged barbecue, upside down," said Kirkland. He said his home survived the fire.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency approved a request from Gov. Bill Owens to pay 75 percent of the firefighting costs, FEMA spokesman Ed Conley said.

Much of the fire is burning on private land, but some is property of the Bureau of Land Management.

The Iron Mountain Fire is currently Colorado's largest wildfire. Before Sunday, the largest fires were the Schoonover Fire at 3,860 acres and the Snaking Fire at 2,600 acres.

As of May 30, 510 fires have been reported in Colorado, burning a total of 39,574 acres, according to the Colorado State Forest Service.

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June 2, 2002: Fremont County Fire Out Of Control