Some of the hundreds of totally destroyed homes are seen in the aftermath of the Waldo Canyon fire in Colorado Springs, Colorado June 28, 2012.
U.S. President Barack Obama has issued a disaster declaration for the western U.S. state of Colorado, where he will travel Friday to survey the damage caused by a massive wildfire that has destroyed hundreds of homes and killed at least one person.
Authorities say 346 homes have been destroyed since Tuesday, when the Waldo Canyon fire suddenly began raging out of control, forcing about 36,000 people in Colorado Springs, the state's second largest city, to evacuate their homes. The city's police chief told reporters Thursday that a body had been found in the debris of a burned out home where two people had been reported missing.
Obama's declaration makes federal disaster funds available to to assist people affected by the Waldo Canyon fire and another massive wildfire in northern Colorado that destroyed 257 homes and killed one woman earlier this month
Wildfires Rage Throughout Colorado
1/16Smoke hovers over the I-25 north of Colorado Springs.
Wildfires across the western U.S. state of Colorado have prompted the evacuation of 32,000 residents. One resident described the flames as looking like "hell was opening up."
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2/16The Waldo Canyon wildfire burns as it moved into subdivisions and destroyed homes in Colorado Springs, Colorado, June 26, 2012.
Wildfires across the western U.S. state of Colorado have prompted the evacuation of 32,000 residents. One resident described the flames as looking like "hell was opening up."
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3/16A C-130 military cargo plane drops thousands of gallons of retardant on the Waldo Canyon.
Wildfires across the western U.S. state of Colorado have prompted the evacuation of 32,000 residents. One resident described the flames as looking like "hell was opening up."
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4/16Smoke from the Waldo Canyon fire engulfs a highway in Colorado.
Wildfires across the western U.S. state of Colorado have prompted the evacuation of 32,000 residents. One resident described the flames as looking like "hell was opening up."
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5/16Smoke rises from the Waldo Canyon fire.
Wildfires across the western U.S. state of Colorado have prompted the evacuation of 32,000 residents. One resident described the flames as looking like "hell was opening up."
Show moreShow less
6/16Smoke billows from a wildfire burning near Colorado Springs, Colorado, June 24, 2012.
Wildfires across the western U.S. state of Colorado have prompted the evacuation of 32,000 residents. One resident described the flames as looking like "hell was opening up."
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7/16People watch a giant smoke plume rising from the Waldo Canyon Fire during sunset, west of Colorado Springs.
Wildfires across the western U.S. state of Colorado have prompted the evacuation of 32,000 residents. One resident described the flames as looking like "hell was opening up."
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8/16Fire rages through the forest in the High Park fire west of Fort Collins, Colorado, June 19, 2012.
Wildfires across the western U.S. state of Colorado have prompted the evacuation of 32,000 residents. One resident described the flames as looking like "hell was opening up."
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9/16A helicopter drops a load of water above the High Park wildfire.
Wildfires across the western U.S. state of Colorado have prompted the evacuation of 32,000 residents. One resident described the flames as looking like "hell was opening up."
Show moreShow less
10/16Smoke clouds Manitou Avenue in Manitou Springs, Colorado, June 24, 2012.
Wildfires across the western U.S. state of Colorado have prompted the evacuation of 32,000 residents. One resident described the flames as looking like "hell was opening up."
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11/16The downtown skyline of Denver is obscured by smoke from the many wildfires burning in the state.
Wildfires across the western U.S. state of Colorado have prompted the evacuation of 32,000 residents. One resident described the flames as looking like "hell was opening up."
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12/16Firefighters from the Monument, Colorado fire department in a base camp near the High Park wildfire.
Wildfires across the western U.S. state of Colorado have prompted the evacuation of 32,000 residents. One resident described the flames as looking like "hell was opening up."
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13/16People watch smoke billowing from wildfires west of Colorado Springs.
Wildfires across the western U.S. state of Colorado have prompted the evacuation of 32,000 residents. One resident described the flames as looking like "hell was opening up."
Show moreShow less
14/16An aerial view shows the High Park wildfire near Fort Collins, Colorado.
Wildfires across the western U.S. state of Colorado have prompted the evacuation of 32,000 residents. One resident described the flames as looking like "hell was opening up."
Show moreShow less
15/16Smoke plumes from wildfires in Colorado are pictured in this satellite image.
Wildfires across the western U.S. state of Colorado have prompted the evacuation of 32,000 residents. One resident described the flames as looking like "hell was opening up."
Show moreShow less
16/16Flames explode near houses in a mountain subdivision, west of Colorado Springs.
Wildfires across the western U.S. state of Colorado have prompted the evacuation of 32,000 residents. One resident described the flames as looking like "hell was opening up."
Show moreShow less
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The Waldo Canyon fire started last Saturday in Pike National Forest, and has consumed over 6,000 hectares of land, at one point threatened the U.S. Air Force Academy. Several days of hot weather and high winds have fueled the fire, with temperatures soaring above 37 degrees Celsius. The blaze is 15 percent contained, thanks to cooler temperatures and calmer winds to helped the firefighting efforts.
The cause of the fire has not been determined. The FBI is investigating to determine if any criminal activity was involved.
The Colorado fires are among several that have raged across much of the western United States in recent weeks, including one in the nearby state of Utah that claimed the life of one person.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
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