Colorado fire victims begin new year surveying destruction

By BRITTANY PETERSON, PATTY NIEBERG and COLLEEN SLEVIN
Associated Press

SUPERIOR, Colo. (AP) — An overnight dumping of snow and frigid temperatures compounded the misery of hundreds of Colorado residents who started off the new year trying to salvage what remains of their homes after a wind-whipped wildfire tore through the Denver suburbs. At least six inches of snow and temperatures in the single digits cast an eerie scene Saturday amid the still-smoldering remains of homes destroyed in Thursday’s wildfire. Despite the shocking change in weather, the smell of smoke still permeated empty streets blocked off by the National Guard. At least seven people were injured in the blaze that destroyed hundreds of 500 homes, but remarkably there have been no confirmed reports of any deaths in the wildfire that erupted Thursday.