Raging wildfire forces thousands to flee

MORE than 32,000 residents were evacuated as a raging wildfire destroyed dozens of homes and left land charred in Colorado.

The wildfire has spread 24 miles, but thick smoke and intense, towering flames have kept officials from learning the full scope of the damage in Colorado Springs, the US state’s second largest city.

Heavy smoke and ash billowed from the mountain foothills west of Colorado Springs.

Many of those told to flee their homes due to the wildfire were residents at the US Air Force Academy as the fire burned about 10 acres of land along the south-west boundary of the academy’s 28-square-mile boundary.