The Wetmore Fire is 100% contained as of this afternoon. The nearly week-old blaze burned nearly 2000 acres in Pueblo and Custer Counties, and destroyed 15 residences. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and the public may smell smoke in the area for the next few weeks.
El Paso County Health officials are reporting the first hospitalized flu patients this season. Three elderly people and one youth have been hospitalized, dating back to October 9th. Flu season typically peaks in January or February, and last year nearly 50 people in the county were hospitalized due to flu-related symptoms. The El Paso County Health Department is urging anyone 6 months of age and older to get vaccinated now.
Hurricane Sandy may be thousands of miles away from Colorado, but it has led to flight cancellations at Denver International Airport and Colorado Springs. Right now about 60 flights from Denver to the East Coast have been canceled.
DIA spokeswoman Laura Coale expects that number to hold steady through the rest of the day – adding that they’re working to anticipate any further problems.
"We’ve been on twice-daily conference calls with the FAA, airlines, and other airports. So we’re monitoring and continuing to have conversations with the whole air traffic system."
Coale says they’re also bringing in additional planes that normally wouldn’t be in Denver overnight, allowing flights to continue to destinations not affected by the storm.
A spokeswoman from the Colorado Springs Airport says only one daily inbound and outbound flight to and from Dulles International Airport in Washington DC has been cancelled. They’re taking a "wait and see" approach to that same flight tomorrow.
