Warm, dry weather may fuel Deckers fire

A fire near Deckers northwest of Colorado Springs has scorched 140 acres and is 0 percent contained.

The fire broke out Sunday afternoon about five miles north of Deckers, near Colorado Highway 67. The highway is closed in both directions between Deckers and Sugar Creek to the north.

A dozen homes were evacuated. No structures have been damaged by the fire.

Cooler temperatures and high humidity Sunday night helped to slow the spread, officials said. There are 225 firefighters on the scene.

Though the fire is smoldering and not growing, officials warned that warmer, dryer weather expected today could make it worse. The National Weather Service predicts a high of 88 degrees in the Deckers area today, with winds of 7 to 9 mph and a slight chance of afternoon thunderstorms.