Cooler weather could help crews fight wildfire

DENVER » Firefighters are hoping to take advantage of cooler weather Tuesday to stop the spread of a wildfire that has forced the evacuation of hundreds of people in the foothills west of Denver.

The Elephant Butte Fire started Monday afternoon and is burning in rugged and steep terrain west of Evergreen. No structures have burned, and no injuries have been reported. It’s not yet clear what caused the fire.

Three evacuation orders were issued for “well over a thousand homes”, Jenny Fulton, a spokesperson for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said.