Wildfire destroys 5 homes in Elbert County, no one hurt

A grass fire near a rural Colorado community southeast of Denver has destroyed five homes and four barns but no one has been hurt.

Authorities say the fire in Elbert County began sometime about 10 a.m. Sunday and was driven by strong winds.

By mid-afternoon, it had burned about 375 acres (152 hectares), but firefighters had gained about 90 percent containment.

Homes in the area were ordered evacuated while firefighters battled the fire, but that evacuation notice was lifted by about 5 p.m.

Authorities said there weren’t initial reports of livestock being lost.