EVERGREEN, Colo., May 7 (UPI) -- Firefighters on Tuesday battled to contain an outbreak of wildfires that have forced hundreds of residents from their homes in the tinder-dry mountain country of Colorado and New Mexico.
About 2,400 people were evacuated from seven subdivisions near Evergreen earlier in the week and 1,400 of them have returned, county officials said, but the fire was still considered a threat to many homes in the area west about 40 miles west of Denver.
The Black Mountain Fire, which broke out Sunday about 6 miles southwest of Evergreen, was 40 percent contained Tuesday at 270 acres, according to Bill Rice, a spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service.
Firefighters made significant progress Monday because the weather cooperated and air tankers and helicopters were able to dump thousands of gallons of water and fire retardant on the blaze, creating a "wet line" in front of the fire, Rice said.
"Because of the weather and coolness last night things are looking better," he said.
The fire was not moving early Tuesday, Rice said, but it was only a half-mile from the nearest home so the evacuation order stayed in place for four subdivisions. No homes have been lost to the fire, he said.
Rice said investigators have determined the fire was started by a lightning strike last weekend.
A cattleman watching the helicopters drop buckets of water on the flaming trees told The Denver Rocky Mountain News this is only the start of a long fire season.
"This meadow should be green," said Ed Powers, pulling up a handful of dead grass. "This is May already, and you can hardly find any new growth."
Colorado has already been hit by more than 200 wildfires because of the drought that is plaguing the whole Southwest this summer.
To the south in northern New Mexico, firefighters were battling a new, 600-acre fire southeast of Santa Fe that had forced about 500 people from Pecos Canyon area. Windy conditions and low humidity helped the fire make several dangerous runs Monday.
Another wildfire about 15 miles southeast of Cloudcroft in southern New Mexico was 65 percent contained after burning 15,400 acres of ponderosa pine and juniper. Officials hope to contain the fire by Wednesday.
