DENVER — Forecasters are warning of dangerous, life-threatening wildfire conditions in Colorado and the region as crews battle multiple fires in Douglas County Tuesday morning.
Conditions across the state have been dry, warm and very windy, with gusts between 40 and 60 miles per hour, and all of southeastern Colorado is under a fire weather warning.
Gusty winds and low humidity in drought-stricken areas will create dangerous fire conditions in parts of Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas, according to the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma. National Weather Service meteorologist Doug Speheger said such conditions haven't been seen in at least a decade.
"With these conditions, wildfires can spread rapidly, present control issues for firefighters and pose a real threat to public safety," said Texas A&M Forest Service Fire Chief Mark Stanford.
Tuesday's fires in Colorado have destroyed several homes and others have been evacuated. At least three separate fires in Douglas County have charred several acres.
Temperatures on Tuesday will be in the upper 50s to low 60s. Firefighters may see a break as a few isolated showers could roll off the foothills and roll over the I-25 corridor by the afternoon and early evening.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
