High temperatures, low humidity and gusty winds along with rugged terrain had hampered firefighters since Monday on the Bobcat Gulch fire north of Denver, and at the Hi Meadow fire southwest of the city. Both have burned out of control for five days. A cold front moved into the region on Thursday afternoon, dropping temperatures and bringing much-needed rain.
Weather forecasts call for the cool, wet weather to last through the weekend.
The Bobcat fire has engulfed 8,100 acres and is about 50-percent contained. Young said he expected the containment figure to increase significantly on Friday night after firefighters had a full day of cooperative weather. About half the counties in Colorado are on strict fire restrictions. The Hi Meadow blaze has consumed 10,950 acres of land and is about 25-percent contained, officials said. Dry winds with gusts up to 60 miles per hour fueled the fire on Thursday, sending a plume of smoke drifting over the Denver metropolitan area.