Authorities in the Colorado Springs area have issued mandatory evacuation notices to residents near a wildfire that has quickly became a dangerous threat, while a fire burning near Estes Park has destroyed 21 homes and cabins.

The Gazette (http://bit.ly/Lqy1DB ) reports that the Waldo Canyon Fire near Colorado Springs flared up at around noon on Saturday.

Fire officials say the fire was burning on about 150 acres by late afternoon, with approximately 250 homes threatened. Evacuations have been ordered on the west side of Colorado Springs and in the towns of Cascade, Ute Pass and Manitou Springs.

The Denver Post reports that the wildfire near Estes Park quickly grew to 20 acres in the hot and dry weather. Homes were evacuated as firefighting resources from the nearby High Park fire poured in.