Hundreds of evacuees are waiting for word of progress against wildfires in Colorado and New Mexico.
The flames have been spreading rapidly through mountainous forest land. The one in Colorado, burning about 15 miles west of Fort Collins, grew to more than 31 square miles within about a day after being reported. It has destroyed or damaged 18 structures. Smoke has drifted as far away as central Nebraska, western Kansas and Texas.
In southern New Mexico, near the mountain community of Ruidoso, crews are working to build a fire line around a blaze that has damaged or destroyed 36 structures since it began Friday.
More evacuations could be coming. A spokeswoman for the New Mexico fire crews says smoke is having an impact on the community of Capitan, about 5 miles to the northeast.
Colorado authorities sent nearly 1,800 evacuation notices to phone numbers, but it's not clear how many residents had to leave. A sheriff says there's an unconfirmed report of a person unaccounted for.
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