Obama to Visit 'Epic' Fire Devastation

Governor declares fire season worst in state history
By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 28, 2012 3:44 AM CDT
Obama to Visit 'Epic' Fire Devastation
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - JUNE 27: Mikke Carlson (cq), takes photos of the smoke from the Waldo Canyon fire while wearing a gas mask on June 27, 2012 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The fire burned numerous homes yesterday as it expanded to 15,000 acres. Over 32,000 people have been evacuated.   (Getty Images)

President Obama plans to jet to Colorado tomorrow to view the devastation of an "epic" rampaging wildfire near Colorado Springs that has gutted hundreds of homes, sent some 35,000 residents fleeing, and destroyed 19,000 acres. Rich Brown, fire chief of Colorado Springs, the state's second largest city, called the blaze a "monster," and said flames were "not even remotely close to being contained."

Erratic winds yesterday whipped the roaring firestorm from one direction to another. "I've never seen any progression like that," a local commander told Reuters. The governor has declared it the "worst fire season in the history of Colorado." (Surprising side story: Thousands of federal firefighters must battle blazes uninsured.)

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