Wildfire rages in western US

A fast-spreading wildfire rages through western parts of the United States.

Dozens of homes were evacuated as the blaze engulfed a wide swathe of the state of Colorado.

Fire fighters have struggled to contain the inferno, which has been fed by high winds and dry conditions.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) JUSTIN SMITH, LARIMER COUNTY SHERIFF SAYING:

"Everybody is doing everything they can right now but fire behaviour and fire weather has not been our friend today."

This is the third major wildfire to hit the region this year.

The fire began Saturday and the cause remains under investigation.

Andrew Raven, Reuters