Gusty winds could hinder firefighters' efforts to contain wildfire west of Fort Collins

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — Gusty winds could hinder firefighters' efforts to contain a wildfire that has scorched up to 1,000 acres in the foothills west of Fort Collins, Colorado.

Calm weather Saturday allowed crews to make significant progress, but forecasts predict warmer temperatures and wind gusts of up to 44 mph today.

The fire reported Friday morning forced hundreds of residents from their homes. All evacuees were allowed to return home last night, but they have been told to remain prepared to leave again.

The blaze is burning west of Horsetooth Reservoir, near the scene of a large wildfire last summer that burned 259 homes and killed one person. No injuries have been reported and no structures have been damaged in the latest fire, which is 45 percent contained.