Tens of thousands evacuated, hundreds of homes destroyed in late-season wind-blown wildfires outside Denver

Denver — Winds driving fast-moving fires that forced tens of thousands of residents to evacuate their homes outside Denver have died down and  predicted snow has started to fall on the area, officials said during a news conference Friday. The hurricane-force winds had gusted up to 105 mph Thursday as fires engulfed parts of three cities.

Hundreds of homes were destroyed by one of them — the #MarshallFire — along with a hotel, shopping center and other businesses. The fire had burned 1,600 acres and was still growing Thursday night, CBS Denver reported.

It pointed out that the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history was the Black Forest Fire, which chewed up more than 14,280 acres and destroyed 511 homes in 2013.