Crews battle to a 'draw' with deadly Colo. fire

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — Firefighters have at least temporarily battled to a "draw" with a fast-moving fire that already has killed two people and destroyed 379 homes, giving weary authorities and residents the first glimmer of hope after three days of mounting damage, a sheriff said.

The fire was at about 25 square miles today after crews were able to keep it from spreading much despite swirling winds and bone-dry conditions, said El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa.

"If it was a draw, then that was a victory today," Maketa said. "because we haven't had many draws lately."

Little more than 36 hours after it started in the Black Forest area northeast of Colorado Springs, the blaze surpassed last June's Waldo Canyon fire as the most destructive in state history. That blaze burned 347 homes and killed two people.

Thursday began somberly, with Maketa drawing audible gasps as he announced the number of homes lost.