‘Slow progress’ on Colorado wildfire

LOVELAND, Colo. – Firefighters worked Monday to control a 925-acre wildfire that destroyed at least two homes in northern Colorado as authorities said the blaze and another one that burned at least 166 homes were sparked by household fires.

Crews were hopeful they could stop the newest fire near Loveland from damaging more houses.

Containment lines have been built around 20 to 25 percent of the second fire, which broke out Sunday near Loveland.

“It’s slow progress,” said Merlin Green, division chief for Loveland Fire and Rescue.

The larger fire – which scorched at least 10 square miles and has cost $8.3 million to fight – was fully contained Monday night, according to a post on the website of the Boulder Office of Emergency Management. It was most likely sparked Sept. 6 by a fire started days earlier in a pit, Sheriff’s Cmdr. Rich Brough said Monday.

The resident doused the fire with water and stirred the ashes to put it out but gusty winds brought the embers to life and blew them out of the pit, Brough said.

Officials hope most people displaced by the blaze will be able to return to their homes by Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Green said a resident burning a brush pile started the fire near Loveland.