DENVER -- A fast-moving wildfire in western Colorado ignited several structures, forced the evacuation of 4,000 people in west Glenwood Springs and closed Interstate 70 between Gypsum and Rifle, 7NEWS reported.

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The blaze has been dubbed the "Coal Seam" fire because early indications are that the fire was started by an underground coal that had been burning for years.

So far the blaze has consumed 2,000 acres and is still growing, according to Garfield County officials.

No injuries have been reported but five homes and one commercial building has been destroyed. About at least 500 homes and 100 commercial structures are threatened.

The fire started at 1 p.m. in the South Canyon area, south of I-70. At about 7:30 p.m., the fire jumped the interstate.

Glenwood Springs is a town of 7,700 about 125 miles west of Denver.

The smoke was so thick that some drivers had their headlights on in the middle of the hot afternoon.

Strong, hot winds quickly fanned the blaze and kept firefighting aircraft grounded.

Winds subsided enough Saturday night to allow two air tankers that had earlier been grounded to begin dropping slurry. Unfortunately, winds will pick up on Sunday morning with gusts of 45 mph, relative humidy will be low, and temperatures peaking in the 90s, according to 7NEWS Meteorologist Pam Daale.

A Red Cross shelter has been set up at Colorado Mountain College Spring Creek and there are about 1,000 people already there, said Matt Bertram of the Red Cross.

The fire is not contained.

A Type I firefighting team has been called in to take command of the fire.

The fire is in the location of the 1994 Storm King fire, which killed 14 firefighters and became notorious for being one of the country's deadliest wildfires.

Other Wildfires In Colorado

Another fire burning at least 40 acres in Park County in central Colorado destroyed one structure and forced the evacuation of 20 homes and two campgrounds near Lake George, sheriff's officials said.

It has been dubbed the Hayman fire. It started at 5 p.m. and was moving quickly to the northeast. A Red Cross shelter has been established at Lake George Elementary School for those affected by the Hayman Fire

The Long Canyon Fire has burned 850 acres about 20 miles north of Grand Junction. It is burning in Pinon Pine, Juniper and sage. The fire was started by lightning and threatening oil and gas wells. A Class 2 team has been ordered in and should arrive Sunday morning.

Two other fires were burning in western Colorado. One north of Eagle consumed 50 acres while another charred 100 acres of BLM land near the Utah border, Bureau of Land Management spokesman Pete Blume said. No structures were threatened by either blaze.

Wind gusts of up to 45 mph hampered suppression efforts. A wind advisory was in effect for most of western Colorado and eastern Utah.

A fire that began Friday during a military exercise at Fort Carson, near Colorado Springs, was 60 percent contained on Saturday after burning 3,090 acres.

Residents were back in their homes Saturday after a 50-acre fire northeast of Durango forced evacuations Friday night. Crews were mopping up but standing guard against a flare-up.

A wildfire near Mack in Mesa County was contained after a propane explosion destroyed one home and threatened another.

Several fires near Trinidad in southern Colorado were 80 percent contained after burning more than 25,326 acres. Full containment was expected Monday.