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The Latest: Huge Colorado Fire Keeps 2,500 Homes Evacuated

Wildfires blaze in more than half a dozen places around Colorado.
bouldercounty.org
Wildfires blaze in more than half a dozen places around Colorado.

More than 2,500 homes in Colorado are under evacuation orders as firefighters battle more than a half dozen wildfires around the state.

Most of the evacuations in effect Monday were due to a 78-square-mile (202-square-kilometer) wildfire in southern Colorado that authorities believe was human-caused.

The Costilla County Sheriff's Office says 52-year-old Jesper Joergensen of Denmark was arrested on arson charges. Investigators haven't released other details except to say they don't think he intentionally started the fire.

Immigration officials have requested that they be allowed to take custody of him if he's released from jail.

About 570 homes are evacuated near a 2-square-mile (6-square-kilometer) fire that started Friday west of Colorado Springs. About 360 children at a camp also had to be evacuated by the Chateau Fire.