Firefighters Gain on Colo. Fire

Firefighters in southern Colorado appeared to be gaining the upper hand on a wildfire that sent some 5,000 people fleeing from their homes this week, as shifting winds worked in their favor Tuesday.

The blaze in the Wet Mountains grew to 12,200 acres, but firefighters had increased their containment lines around 40 percent of the fire, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

To date, only around 100 people were permitted to return to their homes. Officials did not report any injuries or homes destroyed, but at least 1,000 structures were said to be in harm’s way from the blaze, which began last week following a lightning strike.