Heat makes battling wildfires near Denver difficult while flames approach residential areas

A wildfire near metro Denver in Colorado has reached to within a quarter-mile of evacuated homes, putting around 600 residences at risk. The blaze is part of a series of fires threatening highly populated areas in the Colorado foothills, including one that resulted in a fatality earlier in the week. Across the western U.S., nearly 100 large fires are currently burning, the most significant being the Park Fire in Northern California that has consumed over 400 homes and structures.
Aside from the Colorado wildfire, new large fires have been reported in states like Idaho, southeast Montana, and north Texas. The Quarry Fire, located southwest of Littleton near Denver, forced the evacuation of neighborhoods with nearly 600 homes due to its rapid overnight spread of unknown origin. So far, the fire has been contained within 1.4 square kilometers without any homes being destroyed, but officials remain concerned due to the high temperatures forecasted for Thursday.
Injuries among firefighters battling the blaze have been reported, with five individuals being harmed, four of whom suffered from heat exhaustion. Progress has been made in containing the Stone Canyon Fire near Lyons, Colorado, which claimed one life and destroyed five homes, the cause of which is currently under investigation.
Meanwhile, in California, the Park Fire has expanded to cover approximately 1,590 square kilometers. Devastating losses continue to mount, with 437 structures destroyed and 42 damaged, while containment of the fire remains at 18%. This situation demonstrates the severity of the wildfires spreading across multiple states in the western U.S.