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EVERGREEN, Colo. (AP) — Dozens of homes were evacuated near Denver as a winddriven wildfire flared, one of many in the western states where hot and windy conditions were making it easy for the wild land blazes to start and spread.

The fire in the foothills about 30 miles southwest of Denver forced evacuations Wednesday affecting more than 100 people, Jefferson County Sheriff Ted Mink said. The Lime Gulch Fire in Pike National Forest was estimated at 500 acres, the U.S. Forest Service said.

“The good news is, it’s a very sparsely populated area as far as houses go,” Mink said.

Hundreds of firefighters in Arizona were preparing for more hot, windy weather today, which could help fuel a wildfire in Prescott National Forest that has already scorched nearly 12 square miles. The blaze erupted Tuesday afternoon and led to the evacuation of 460 homes.

To the north, smoke from another fire that broke out Wednesday was visible from Grand Canyon National Park.



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