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Cool weather aids in forest against Colo,Wildfire

Lower temperatures and higher humidity Saturday were helping crews assigned to a wildfire that has scorched 12 square miles in northern Colorado, one of several burning across the West. The fire, which started Monday about 20 miles northwest of Fort Collins, had prompted officials to evacuate about 80 homes, but all residents were allowed to return by Friday night. No buildings have been damaged, and the blaze was about 45 percent contained Saturday afternoon. Reghan Cloudman with the U.S. Forest Service said the area received about 0.15 inches of rain Saturday morning, which "is better than nothing." Scattered rain storms moved through the area in the afternoon, and temperatures were expected to remain in the 50s throughout the day — more than a 20-degree drop from highs during the previous three days. "The rain is definitely helping firefighters out there," Cloudman said. "It's good news, but we don't want people to let their guard down....

Colorado wildfire kills one, 900 above Homes Evacuated

One person was killed and hundreds more evacuated from their homes in Colorado Monday as a fast-moving wildfire burned through more than four-and-a-half square miles, authorities said.The death was confirmed overnight by authorities in Jefferson County, Colo., a largely rural area 25 miles southwest of Denver where the wildfire was first reported midday Monday.Authorities said the fire, which officials suspect flared up from a controlled burn in the area last week, spread quickly because of dry and windy conditions in the area. At least five homes were destroyed in the area and more than 900 homes were evacuated Monday.  Authorities overnight told homeowners in surrounding neighborhoods to be ready to evacuate immediately should the direction of the flame shift.  "A guy whose house I think is on fire right now called me and said get up here and get your horses out," one evacuee said .  "I've got nothing … just the clothes on my back and my babies....