CRISISBOOM

msnbc.com

GOLDEN, Colo. — About 100 homes in the foothills west of Denver remained under evacuation orders and hundreds more were on standby as strong winds helped spread a wildfire scorching nearly 2 square miles of drought-stricken brush, trees and grasses.

The fire has already blackened about 1,200 acres west of Golden, in Jefferson County, and officials said it was 15 percent contained Tuesday.

A light dusting of snow fell on the tops of the hills overnight, but the weather has been mostly working against firefighters in the steep, rugged terrain about 15 miles from downtown Denver.

More strong winds are in the forecast, with gusts as high as 75 mph expected later in the Read more…