Friday, June 29, 2012

'We're not sure what we are going to do next'

A partially burned home smolders among those destroyed in the Waldo Canyon fire in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on Thursday, June 28. A partially burned home smolders among those destroyed in the Waldo Canyon fire in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on Thursday, June 28.
The line where the Waldo Canyon fire stopped moving east is seen from the air in Colorado Springs. Lower temperatures and lighter winds helped firefighters on Thursday in the battle against the fire, which has destroyed hundreds of homes and forced more than 35,000 people to flee.The line where the Waldo Canyon fire stopped moving east is seen from the air in Colorado Springs. Lower temperatures and lighter winds helped firefighters on Thursday in the battle against the fire, which has destroyed hundreds of homes and forced more than 35,000 people to flee.
An aerial view of a destroyed neighborhood in the aftermath of the Waldo Canyon fire in Colorado Springs.An aerial view of a destroyed neighborhood in the aftermath of the Waldo Canyon fire in Colorado Springs.
The Waldo Canyon fire spreads through a neighborhood in the hills above Colorado Springs on June 26. See more photos at <a href='http://www.denverpost.com/' target='_blank'>The Denver Post</a>.The Waldo Canyon fire spreads through a neighborhood in the hills above Colorado Springs on June 26. See more photos at The Denver Post.
Hazy smoke from the Waldo Canyon Fire looms behind the Air Force Academy stadium on Wednesday, June 27, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The fire expanded to 15,000 acres. More than 32,000 people have been evacuated.Hazy smoke from the Waldo Canyon Fire looms behind the Air Force Academy stadium on Wednesday, June 27, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The fire expanded to 15,000 acres. More than 32,000 people have been evacuated.
Susan Custer and her husband, Gary Custer, watch the Waldo Canyon Fire on Wednesday.Susan Custer and her husband, Gary Custer, watch the Waldo Canyon Fire on Wednesday.
At dawn on Tuesday, firefighters stir from their tents at a camp near Holmes Middle School.At dawn on Tuesday, firefighters stir from their tents at a camp near Holmes Middle School.
Smoke billows from the Waldo Canyon Fire west of Colorado Springs on Tuesday.Smoke billows from the Waldo Canyon Fire west of Colorado Springs on Tuesday.
Evacuees drive under a shroud of smoke from the Waldo Canyon Fire on Tuesday.Evacuees drive under a shroud of smoke from the Waldo Canyon Fire on Tuesday.
J'Amie Sirvaitis of Colorado Springs watches the Waldo Canyon Fire after winds pushed the fire into the Mountain Shadows neighborhood in Colorado Springs on Tuesday.J'Amie Sirvaitis of Colorado Springs watches the Waldo Canyon Fire after winds pushed the fire into the Mountain Shadows neighborhood in Colorado Springs on Tuesday.
Residents of Colorado Springs watch as the Waldo Canyon Fire burns a home in the Mountain Shadows neighborhood on Tuesday.Residents of Colorado Springs watch as the Waldo Canyon Fire burns a home in the Mountain Shadows neighborhood on Tuesday.
Smoke from the Waldo Canyon Fire engulfs Interstate 25 north of Colorado Springs, Colorado, as the blaze burns out of control Tuesday.Smoke from the Waldo Canyon Fire engulfs Interstate 25 north of Colorado Springs, Colorado, as the blaze burns out of control Tuesday.
A large plume of smoke from the Waldo Canyon Fire fills the sky west of Colorado Springs on Tuesday.A large plume of smoke from the Waldo Canyon Fire fills the sky west of Colorado Springs on Tuesday.
Jan Stone, right, comforts Angela Morgan as smoke from the Waldo Canyon Fire pours over the Mountain Shadows neighborhood of Colorado Springs on Tuesday.Jan Stone, right, comforts Angela Morgan as smoke from the Waldo Canyon Fire pours over the Mountain Shadows neighborhood of Colorado Springs on Tuesday.
A portion of the Waldo Canyon Fire moves across a hillside above a subdivision west of Colorado Springs on Tuesday.A portion of the Waldo Canyon Fire moves across a hillside above a subdivision west of Colorado Springs on Tuesday.
Colorado State Patrol and Colorado Department of Transportation personnel set up a roadblock west of Manitou Springs, Colorado, on Monday, June 25.Colorado State Patrol and Colorado Department of Transportation personnel set up a roadblock west of Manitou Springs, Colorado, on Monday, June 25.
A portion of the Waldo Canyon fire burns out of control in the hills west of Manitou Springs on Monday.A portion of the Waldo Canyon fire burns out of control in the hills west of Manitou Springs on Monday.
Trees burn on a ridge above Cedar Heights in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on Sunday, June 24. Trees burn on a ridge above Cedar Heights in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on Sunday, June 24.
Greg and Karen Bodine help her father, Duane Schormann, left, load his animals into a trailer near Colorado Springs as they evacuate the area Sunday.Greg and Karen Bodine help her father, Duane Schormann, left, load his animals into a trailer near Colorado Springs as they evacuate the area Sunday.
The High Park Fire, which was 45% contained as of Saturday, has destroyed 191 homes west of Fort Collins. The High Park Fire, which was 45% contained as of Saturday, has destroyed 191 homes west of Fort Collins.
The High Park Fire rages through the forest west of Fort Collins, Colorado, on Tuesday, June 19.The High Park Fire rages through the forest west of Fort Collins, Colorado, on Tuesday, June 19.
Local resident Dwayne Crawford looks out at the High Park Fire from his home west of Fort Collins on Tuesday, June 19.Local resident Dwayne Crawford looks out at the High Park Fire from his home west of Fort Collins on Tuesday, June 19.
A heavy air tanker drops fire retardant on the blaze June 19. Its growth potential was "extreme," according to authorities.A heavy air tanker drops fire retardant on the blaze June 19. Its growth potential was "extreme," according to authorities.
Flames scorched this area outside of Fort Collins where the High Park Fire has burned out.Flames scorched this area outside of Fort Collins where the High Park Fire has burned out.
A helicopter drops water over the Wood Hollow Fire north of Fairview, Utah, on Tuesday.A helicopter drops water over the Wood Hollow Fire north of Fairview, Utah, on Tuesday.
A wall of fire makes its way down a hillside toward a farm north of Fairview, Utah, on Tuesday. The Wood Hollow Fire, one of at least three wildfires burning in Utah, has grown to nearly 39,000 acres.A wall of fire makes its way down a hillside toward a farm north of Fairview, Utah, on Tuesday. The Wood Hollow Fire, one of at least three wildfires burning in Utah, has grown to nearly 39,000 acres.
Smoldering earth and damage from the Dump Fire, which began June 21, can be seen outside a plant near Saratoga Springs, Utah, on Saturday, June 23.Smoldering earth and damage from the Dump Fire, which began June 21, can be seen outside a plant near Saratoga Springs, Utah, on Saturday, June 23.
Burned-out terrain from the Dump Fire fills a hillside near Saratoga Springs, Utah on Saturday.Burned-out terrain from the Dump Fire fills a hillside near Saratoga Springs, Utah on Saturday.
The smoke plume from a fire in the Los Padres National Forest, which began on June 16, billows into the sky. The fire burned more than 500 acres before it was contained.The smoke plume from a fire in the Los Padres National Forest, which began on June 16, billows into the sky. The fire burned more than 500 acres before it was contained.
Firefighters watch as the wildfire spreads throught the Los Padres National Forest on June 16. Another fire in San Diego County has burned almost 1000 acres leading to 150 homes being evacuated. Firefighters watch as the wildfire spreads throught the Los Padres National Forest on June 16. Another fire in San Diego County has burned almost 1000 acres leading to 150 homes being evacuated.
A helicopter makes a water drop on the wildfire in Los Padres National Forest on June 16.A helicopter makes a water drop on the wildfire in Los Padres National Forest on June 16.
The Poco Fire from Rim Vista in the Tonto National Forest in Arizona ignited on June 14 and spread to 4,900 acres.The Poco Fire from Rim Vista in the Tonto National Forest in Arizona ignited on June 14 and spread to 4,900 acres.
An airplane drops retardant on the 257 Fire near Superior, Arizona, on June 14. The blaze was about 85% contained at a size of more than 2,800 acres. An airplane drops retardant on the 257 Fire near Superior, Arizona, on June 14. The blaze was about 85% contained at a size of more than 2,800 acres.
Firefighters battle the Little Bear Fire in the Lincoln National Forest in New Mexico on June 14. The Little Bear Fire had burned more than 40,000 acres and was still spreading.Firefighters battle the Little Bear Fire in the Lincoln National Forest in New Mexico on June 14. The Little Bear Fire had burned more than 40,000 acres and was still spreading.
The Little Bear Fire spreads across a road in the Lincoln National Forest on June 13.The Little Bear Fire spreads across a road in the Lincoln National Forest on June 13.
Firefighters in New Mexico struggle on June 14 to contain the Little Bear blaze, which has destroyed more than 250 structures.Firefighters in New Mexico struggle on June 14 to contain the Little Bear blaze, which has destroyed more than 250 structures.
This portion of landscape was charred by the Little Bear Fire in New Mexico on June 14. Are wildfires blazing near you? Share photos and videos with iReport <a href='http://ireport.cnn.com/topics/16940' target='_blank'>here</a>, but please stay safe.This portion of landscape was charred by the Little Bear Fire in New Mexico on June 14. Are wildfires blazing near you? Share photos and videos with iReport here, but please stay safe.
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  • A charred body has been discovered inside a destroyed home, police say
  • The body was discovered by authorities searching for two people reported missing
  • The Waldo Canyon Fire, has destroyed at least 346 homes, fire officials say
  • President Barack Obama issues disaster declaration for Colorado

Are wildfires blazing near you? Share photos and videos with iReport, but please stay safe.

(CNN) -- Rebekah and Bryan Largent clung to one another as their worst fears were confirmed: Their home was among the 346 destroyed in a wildfire ravaging the outskirts of Colorado Springs, Colorado.

"We're not sure what we are going to do next," Rebekah Largent told CNN affiliate KKTV late Thursday just minutes after the couple learned their rented home was among those turned to a pile of smoldering ash and rubble.

The wildfire has wreaked havoc since it began over the weekend on the western outskirts of Colorado Springs, forcing more than 36,000 to flee their homes as it hop-scotched through heavily populated neighborhoods and threatened the Air Force Academy.

By early Friday morning, the fire had scorched more than 16,700 acres and killed at least one person, authorities said.

Family sees home burning on front page
High winds fueling Colorado wildfire
Evacuee: Wildfire 20 feet from home
Evacuees watch and hope homes remain

More than 20,000 homes and 160 businesses were under threat from the Waldo Canyon Fire, which was 15% contained by early Friday, according to InciWeb, a U.S. multi-agency fire response website.

Among the hardest hit areas was the Mountain Shadows subdivision of Colorado Springs, where authorities late Thursday discovered a charred body inside one of the homes destroyed by the fire.

The body was found during a search for two people who were reported missing in the area, Police Chief Pete Carey said.

Barbara Miller, a police spokeswoman, told CNN that authorities made the discovery after a family had "inquired about the status of their loved ones."

Miller said it's possible another body is at the destroyed home. Authorities were forced to suspend the search because it was too dark to continue, she said.

Carey declined to release further details or identify the missing, saying the case was under investigation.

Earlier in the day, Carey said there were fewer than 10 people reported missing and that authorities were checking with evacuation centers and relatives to try to locate them.

A secondary search of the destroyed homes was scheduled to be carried out Friday, authorities said, to make sure no one remained inside.

Mayor Steve Bach, citing preliminary numbers, told reporters that 346 residences on 34 streets were destroyed.

President Barack Obama issued a disaster declaration Friday for Colorado, which will allow the flow of federal funds to help areas affected by the Waldo Canyon Fire as well as the High Park Fire, which has burned more than 87,000 acres in northern Colorado since it began on June 9. The High Park Fire is 85% contained, according to InciWeb.

Obama, meanwhile, will travel to the Colorado Springs area on Friday to survey the damage and thank responders battling the blaze, the White House said.

Bach said he welcomed the visit. "I really appreciate the president coming here ... if nothing more than just to reassure us that this a focus at a national level, that there are people all over this country who are concerned for our citizens and those who have lost their homes," he said. "And I do plan to ask for cash."

Hundreds gathered late Thursday at a meeting for residents of specific streets, many in the Mountain Shadows area, affected by the fire.

"This is going to be a tough evening, but we're going to get through it," Bach said. "This community is going to mount an unprecedented response to this. ... This community is going to surround them with love and encouragement, and we are going to move forward as a city."

The Largents suspected their home was among those destroyed when they saw an aerial photo of their neighborhood.

A piece of paper distributed by authorities during the meeting -- with their addressed listed -- confirmed it.

Gone is the wedding dress, the family photos and their grandmother's china.

Among the smoldering ash is the remains of a rocking chair where the couple took turns for more than a year rocking their baby girl, Emma, to sleep.

The Largents should have been celebrating their daughter's first birthday on Tuesday. Instead, they say, they fled their home.

They took only what they could carry: A few toys, a few changes of clothes, the couple said.

"We thought we were coming back in a couple of days," Rebekah Largent said.

Firefighters hoped to make progress on the fire on Friday when temperatures cool into the lower 90s with winds of no more than 10 mph -- a far cry from the 65-mph gusts Tuesday that whipped the flames through mountain canyons and past containment lines.

The U.S. Forest Service has estimated it could be mid-July before the fire is fully under control.

The Denver office of the FBI, meanwhile, has joined ATF agents and local authorities in investigating reports that an arsonist may be responsible for igniting the fire.

Authorities also announced the arrest of two people accused of burglarizing a home left vacant by the evacuation order.

Belinda Yates, 38, and Shane Garrett, 36, were being held on suspicion of second-degree burglary, theft, possession of a controlled substance and other related charges, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation said.

CNN's Greg Morrison, Phil Gast and Ashley Hayes contributed to this report.