At Least Some Homes Destroyed by Colorado Wildfire A wildfire erupted amid dry, windy weather in Colorado on Monday, and authorities say at least some homes have been destroyed in the mountains west of Denver. Jefferson County sheriff's spokesman Mark Techmeyer said it's not clear how many houses have been lost. The fast-moving fire has burned at least 200 acres and prompted evacuations of 374 homes. Up to a dozen smaller fires were reported from the northeast Colorado plains to the southern part of the state. There were no immediate reports of injuries. The 200-acre fire was about 25 miles southwest of Denver. Shelters were set up in two high schools and the Red Cross said it was preparing to send cots and blankets. The National Weather Service said sustained winds of up to 40 mph hit the fire area with gusts up to 55 mph, but they began to die down after sunset. In this photo provided by Kris Garrett, A plume of smoke rises skyward over the top of a wildfire burning out of control near Conifer, Colo., on Monday, March 26, 2012. High winds fanned the fire and kept air craft from being used to knock the fire down. (AP Photo/Kris Garrett) Close "But it's so dry out there now that even a 15- to 20-mph wind is going to spread the fire," said weather service meteorologist Bob Kleyla. Billows of smoke were visible from downtown Denver. Kleyla said weather radar showed the smoke plume had drifted about 100 miles to the northeast by nightfall, and state health officials warned smoke could linger and affect air quality until Tuesday afternoon. Another fire was burning on Lookout Mountain west of Denver, where homes dot the forest along a steep, winding road with spectacular views. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Department said the fire was close to homes, but no evacuation orders had been reported. No size estimate was immediately available. The Colorado Department of Emergency Management said small grass fires ignited in Morgan, Logan and Weld counties on the northeast Colorado plains. Winds on the plains were gusting to 50 mph. Denver airport officials warned that high winds could delay arriving and departing flights by up to 30 minutes Monday night Pueblo County in southern Colorado reported nine small fires ranging from debris piles to a car destroyed in an auto body shop after embers from a trash fire spread to the building.