Colorado wildfire forces thousands of evacuations
Blaze burning outside Denver - sparked by downed power lines
BOULDER COUNTY, Colo. (CBS News) - Thousands of residents in two communities near Denver were ordered to evacuate Thursday because of wind-fueled wildfires that engulfed parts of the area in smoky, orangish skies.
The city of Louisville, which has a population of about 21 thousand, was ordered to evacuate after residents in Superior, which has 13 thousand residents, were told to leave.
Wildfires turn skies orange in Colorado:
The neighboring towns are roughly 20 miles northwest of Denver.
Authorities said at least some of the fires were sparked by downed power lines, as winds gusted up to 105 miles per hour.
There are reports of at least six people injured.
A nearby portion of U.S. Highway 36 also was shut down because of fire.
