Colorado wildfire: three feared dead and nearly 1,000 homes destroyed as Biden declares disaster

Three people are missing and feared dead after a wind-stoked wildfire roared through two towns in Boulder county, Colorado, prompting thousands of evacuations and destroying nearly 1,000 homes, authorities said on Saturday.

Officials initially said there were no reports of fatalities or missing residents following the rare urban wildfire that erupted Thursday morning on the northern outskirts of the Denver metropolitan area.

Wind gusts of more than 100mph (160km/h) pushed flames eastward into the towns of Superior and Louisville, prompting the evacuation of both communities. In about two hours, the fire had scorched 6,000 acres (2,400 hectares), officials said.

Boulder county sheriff Joe Pelle said the three missing people, whom he declined to identify, all lived in homes that were consumed by the blaze.

Pelle said 991 homes in Superior, Louisville and in unincorporated parts of the county have been destroyed, making it the most destructive wildfire in state history in terms of residences lost.

Pelle said detectives were investigating all avenues to determine the source of ignition. Acting on a tip, the sheriff said a search warrant was issued in connection to the probe, but declined to offer any details.

Joe Biden declared the situation a disaster and experts warned that the climate crisis and suburban expansion contributed to the devastation.