Two found dead as Black Forest fire rages in Colorado

GlobalPost
Updated on
The World

Two people are dead and at least 400 homes have been burned in the Black Forest fire raging near Colorado Springs, which has caused the evacuation of at least 39,000 people.

Officials said late Friday the fire is now 30 percent contained.

The remains of two people apparently trying to flee the flames were found inside their garage in the Black Forest neighborhood, after they were reported missing. They appear to have been loading up their car to leave the area, according to the Los Angeles Times. 

Read more from GlobalPost: Colorado fire forces evacuation of state prison

The Black Forest fire is now officially the most destructive in state history, encompassing about 15,700 acres, according to KRDO.com. Nearly 40,000 people have fled the area over the three-day-long course of the fire thus far. 

A force of 750 firefighters has only managed to contain the fire by 5 percent, according to the Gazette, and are expected to be on the scene all night long. 

Last year's destructive Waldo Canyon fire in Colorado Springs burned 346 homes and killed two people. Colorado Springs has a population of 430,000 people, and evacuations have for the first time this year been ordered within the city limits. 

"I never in my wildest dreams imagined we'd be dealing a year later with a very similar circumstance," said El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa of the blaze, according to CBS.

Sign up for our daily newsletter

Sign up for The Top of the World, delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.