BEULAH, Colo. (AP) -- Nearly 5,000 residents who were evacuated from their neighborhoods by a 12,200-acre wildfire waited for word Wednesday on when they could sleep in their own beds, while about 100 others on the other side of the fire cheered their return home.
Fresh crews and more aircraft joined the battle Tuesday against the blaze in dry, steep terrain in the Wet Mountains about 150 miles south of Denver. Lighter winds and higher humidity Tuesday helped keep fire growth down to roughly 500 acres, as residents in the Greenwood community on the northwest side of the fire enjoyed a full day back home.
Thrilva Garrison was among about 100 residents whose evacuation orders were lifted late Monday. After four days in a Canon City motel, she revelled in routine activities that seemed like luxuries.
''Sleeping in my own bed. Taking a shower. Taking food out for dinner,'' Garrison said. ''I'm having a good T-bone steak tonight and a baked potato.
Some returned to find ribbons tied to mailboxes as signals to firefighters that residents had been told to evacuate, or that the homes could be defended by firefighters. Wood piles, gasoline cans and propane grills were moved to open spaces.
Meanwhile, southwest of the fire's perimeter, thousands of Beulah residents spent another day at motels or with friends and family.
Pueblo County sheriff's officials said Beulah residents wouldn't be allowed back home before Wednesday afternoon, when fire and sheriff's officials would re-evaluate conditions.
''We are hoping and praying we can let residents in as soon as possible,'' sheriff's spokesman Steve Bryant said. ''We had some good weather the last two days. We're encouraged, but we're not going to jeopardize the safety of any individuals. The fire could start again.''
Fire information officer Brian Scott said flames had advanced to about a few dozen yards of some homes.
No injuries were reported and no homes burned, but more than 1,000 houses, outbuildings and other structures were listed as threatened.
About 800 firefighters, eight helicopters, nine air tankers and 56 fire trucks were on the scene.
The lightning-caused fire, which started July 6 and has cost $2.6 million to fight so far, was 40 percent contained but had the potential to erupt again, U.S. Forest Service spokesman Dave Steinke said.
''There's enough interior islands (within the charred area) that are unburned that another big wind event could get this thing going again,'' Steinke said.
On the Net:
National Interagency Fire Center: www.nifc.gov
