Rain could douse Colorado fire but cause flash flooding

DURANGO — Rain is in the forecast for an area of Colorado hit hard by a wildfire but officials warn that also could mean flash flooding.

More than 51 square miles have burned near Durango and the fire is just 20 percent contained.

The Durango Herald reports authorities have lifted evacuation orders for more than 800 homes and businesses in southwestern Colorado. Hundreds of homes remain evacuated.

Heavy rain could now create new problems in the burned area, which has much less vegetation to hold back runoff.

The National Weather Service had as much as an inch of rain in Saturday’s forecast. La Plata County Emergency Management Director Butch Knowlton said a small amount of rain can cause severe flooding.

Knowlton said flooding could prompt new evacuations.