THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE have fled their homes in Colorado as major wildfires spread, destroying homes and land in its wake.

Several fires are currently burning in the state, the most destructive of which has doubled overnight to over 15,000 acres.

The Waldo Canyon fire has destroyed an unconfirmed number of homes across the Colorado Springs area of the state. The flames forced over 11,000 people to evacuate from their homes yesterday and the city of Colorado Springs issued further mandatory evacuation orders last night.

The latest update from authorities overseeing the emergency response to the wildfire says that some of the earlier evacuation orders have been lifted and residents are allowed to return home. However, it warns that traffic in some areas is being affected by fire operation.

The Red Cross has set up an emergency shelter for evacuated residents and people can also bring companion pets such as dogs or cats. Fire chief Rich Brown told CBS Denver today that the fire is “not even remotely close to being contained”.

The fire is understood to have started at around noon on Saturday and the cause remains under investigation.