Evacuations ordered near blaze in northern Colo.

Evacuations ordered near blaze in northern Colo.

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — Fire officials have ordered mandatory evacuations for residents living near a wildfire burning near a scenic canyon in northern Colorado.

Fire information officer Reghan Cloudman says the notices were going out to residents living east of the rapidly growing fire today. It wasn’t immediately clear how many people were affected.

The blaze northwest of Fort Collins has grown from 1,000 acres to 5,000 acres in the last day. Authorities have said it was burning within a quarter-mile of some homes.

Steep, rocky terrain and lack of roads in the area are hampering firefighting efforts. Some 400 firefighters have been dispatched to the fire.