Colorado Wildfire Forces Evacuations, Threatens World’s Highest Suspension Bridge

Wildfires are burning their way through Colorado, a region devastated by a series of potent fires last summer. Three fires, one near Colorado Springs, one in Rocky Mountain National Park, and one near the Royal Gorge Bridge, says the BBC, have so far forced the evacuation of thousands of people, including 905 prisoners.

The Colorado Springs fire, says ABC, has so far burned at least 8,000 acres of the landscape, torching up to 60 homes in the process.

“This fire is far from under under control or extinguished,” said Sheriff Terry Maketa to ABC of the Colorado Springs fire.

On top of homes and forests, says the BBC, the fires are also threatening the Royal Gorge Bridge, the tallest suspension bridge in the world. The bridge hangs 956 feet above the Arkansas river. So far, says the Gazette, the bridge seems to be fine, though the land on both sides have been torched.

The trio of Colorado wildfires are the latest in what is expected to be another bad fire season for the west. Indeed, says UPI, the ongoing Colorado Springs fire is supposed to pick up because of high winds and temperatures.

More from Smithsonian.com:

Western U.S. Forest Fires Could Double Within 40 Years
Watch Out: This Year’s Fire Season Will Be Another Bad One for the West

Colin Schultz | | READ MORE

Colin Schultz is a freelance science writer and editor based in Toronto, Canada. He blogs for Smart News and contributes to the American Geophysical Union. He has a B.Sc. in physical science and philosophy, and a M.A. in journalism.