Residents to tour areas destroyed by Colorado fire

Residents to tour areas destroyed by Colorado fire

People who fled the most destructive fire in Colorado's history were being allowed visits to the most devastated neighborhoods Sunday, and many will find their homes among the nearly 350 burned to the ground. Two bodies have been found in the ruins.

About 10,000 people remained evacuated, down from more than 30,000 at the peak of the Waldo Canyon fire in Colorado Springs.

"I'm afraid to go on the tour tomorrow and see our neighborhood in ruins," said Janine Herbertson, whose home was unburned amid 150 that were destroyed.

The fire was 45% contained late Saturday night after a long week of shifting winds that frustrated firefighters. It was one of many burning across the West, including eight in Utah and a fast-growing blaze in Montana that forced residents in several small communities to leave.

Authorities at the Colorado Springs fire said they were confident they had managed in many areas to stop flames from spreading.

"We're cautiously optimistic," incident commander Rich Harvey said Sunday morning. "We still remain focused on things that could go wrong."

The two victims' names haven't been released. Police Chief Pete Carey said Saturday the approximately 10 people who had been unaccounted for had been located. Police did not expect to find other victims.

Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the fire that broke out on June 23, and which so far has cost $8.8 million to battle. Dangerous conditions had kept them from beginning their inquiry.

Among the fires elsewhere in the West:

â€" Utah: Residents were sifting through the ashes of more than 50 houses destroyed.

â€" Montana: Authorities ordered the evacuation of several communities Saturday as the Ash Creek Complex fires, which have burned more than 70 homes this week, continued to grow.

â€" Wyoming: A wind-driven wildfire in a sparsely populated area exploded in size, burning an unknown number of structures.

â€" Idaho: A fast-moving wildfire that destroyed 66 homes had been expected to be contained Saturday. Some 1,000 residents were evacuated.