GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. -- Fire teams overpowered by the Glenwood Springs wildfire guarded dozens of homes rather than trying to fight the ferocious flames on Monday.

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However, because the weather is cooperating and winds have died down, air tankers were able to make a couple of slurry drops.

The Coal Seam Fire is considered the number one firefighting priority in the country because of the number of homes it threatens.

However, because of its volatility, firefighters have not been able to be on the front lines. Instead they are building backfires and using air support to contain the flames.

On Monday, for the first time in two days, air tankers were in the air and not grounded by high winds.

The blaze has already burned more than 9,474 acres as of Monday afternoon, and destroyed 40 structures including 24 homes.

About 3,000 residents in north and west Glenwood Springs were forced to evacuate as fire crews stood guard on the ridges above the town.

Some evacuees were allowed back at their homes, or what was left of it, Sunday evening and Monday afternoon as temperatures cooled and the fire appeared to have lied down.

But hopes were not high for quick containment.

A high wind warning was issued for the area on Monday, and that, combined with high temperatures, and low humidity could cause the fire to flare up again unexpectedly and that's what firefighters are worried about, 7NEWS reported.

"The vegetation here is extremely, extremely dry and with a steep ridge, it makes for extreme fire behavior and potential for a very active fire," said Justin Dumbrowski, a Fire Information Officer.

Even though resources are slim because of other wildfires raging in the state, the Type I Management team who has taken control of the Glenwood Springs blaze said that it does have six air tankers working on the fire, 7NEWS reported.

Firefighters were especially cautious because of memories of the 1994 Storm King fire that killed 14 smoke-jumping firefighters. They were on similar dry, steep terrain.

There were no reported injuries in the fire.

"We learned from Storm King that dwellings can be rebuilt but you don't want to lose any life," Mayor Pro-tem Rick Davis said.

The fire was apparently ignited by underground coal that had been burning for 90 years, officials said.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency late Sunday approved funds to help the state fight the blaze. The grant was the eighth that FEMA had approved for Colorado this year. That is as much as agency issued in the last eight years.