Fire engulfs everything in its path in Colorado, tens of thousands evacuated

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated, and hundreds of homes have been destroyed in wildfires spreading across the US state of Colorado.

The fires have engulfed Boulder County north of Denver, and officials say deaths and injuries are "likely".

Boulder, a city of more than 100,000 inhabitants, is about fifty kilometers from Denver, the capital of Colorado.

About 30,000 people were evacuated yesterday from the towns of Louisville and Superior, and Governor Jared Polis declared a state of emergency.

- This fire is not a matter of resources, but a force of nature - he said.

- We hope the winds will calm down - said Polis. Namely, winds of about 170 km/h are fanning the flames in the region after a historic drought, the BBC reports.

- Strong winds are fanning the fire and planes are not flying - tweeted Jared Polis, the governor of this mountain state, where the Rockies meet the Great Plains.

Almost 600 homes have burned down in the vicinity of the town of Superior, said Joe Pelle, Boulder County Sheriff. The fire has engulfed a shopping center and a hotel.

At least seven firefighters have been injured, Sheriff Pelle said, adding that it is "likely" there will be more.

- Given the size and strength of the fire and the dense population of this area, we would not be surprised if there are injuries and fatalities - warned Sheriff Joe Pelle.

Footage taken in front of a store shows dramatic scenes of a parking lot shrouded in thick smoke as people try to escape.