By: alex.c@thenavajopost.com | June 27

Waldo Canyon Fire-Colorado photo by: Joswa/Picture Collection.com

One of Americas top 10 states for outdoor recreation is burning with no end in sight, summer camping trips will be a ‘no go’ this summer, in Colorado anyway…32,000 residence were evacuated from Colorado Springs late Monday as the fire raged into residential areas. Raging wind and heat gave the fire more power to destroy homes, vast amounts of lush forest, and most of all, smoke that clouted the air with thick black grey smoke.

Associated Press, photographer Gaylon Womper took a photograph of a horrifying fire approaching homes on a mountain side. Colorado Springs Fire Chief Rich Brown told Reuters the firestorm is threatening his city, with more than 650,000 people – calling the fire “a monster” and said at this point flames were “not even remotely close to being contained.”

The Southern Ute Tribe said “Due to continued high temperatures, extremely dry fuel conditions and the occurrence of recent wildland fires, Stage II fire restrictions have been implemented for all trust lands throughout the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. “Fuel conditions are as dry as we’ve seen in a decade, similar to 2002.” adding, “We are asking everyone to be extremely cautious when out in the forest and outdoors this time of year” says Rich Gustafson, Fire Management Officer with the Southern Ute Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs.

According to Colorado El Paso County officials, the FBI is now investigating the cause of the fire- What started the Waldo Canyon fire? Neighboring Teller County has experienced a arsonist in the past, the local county sheriff said there is no person of interest at this time, they are investigating the fire based on tips.

Recently, Arizona experience a forest fires when residents near Flagstaff were evacuated threatening thousands of homes. Up near the high country in Payson, the Tonto National Forest fire was over taken with a smoke that look like a atomic bomb has just gone off, it gave that mushroom smoke into the Arizona Skies.

President Obama is expected to visit the state Friday.