Colorado wildfire 75 percent contained

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GALENA, Colo., March 17 (UPI) -- Firefighters had the Galena fire in Colorado 75 percent contained Sunday despite winds gusting up to 55 mph, officials said.

Authorities said in an evening update that the wildfire near Lory State Park west of Fort Collins was dampened down by afternoon snow showers, The Denver Post reported

About 130 firefighters and two fire suppression helicopters were working the fire until high winds put an end to the aerial effort, the Post said.

The Larimer County Sheriff's Department said the fire had blackened at least 1,000 acres, but the total was expected to rise.

"One of the goals is to get a more accurate acreage count and map the fire area on the west boundary," sheriff's spokeswoman Kathy Messick said.

Fire officials said no homes or outbuildings had been destroyed, and about 50 homes in the vicinity were not threatened, the Post said. Homeowners who had evacuated had begun returning home Saturday evening, though they were warned they may have to leave again if conditions change, officials said.

The fire, which was reported to 911 Friday morning, was caused accidentally, but was not from a campfire or controlled burn that got out of control due to winds, said Patrick Love of the Poudre Fire Authority.