Deckers, Colo. (AP)- Drenching rains washed out roads, left behind debris and flooded houses in areas of Douglas County still recovering from the largest wildfire in Colorado history. That's prompted Governor Owens to issue an order today for a state disaster emergency. The order allows state and federal assistance in the area where the Hayman Fire burned 138–thousand acres in 2002. State officials report that five homes in Douglas County had flooded and 40 more were threatened. Sheriff's officials are still assessing the damage and say they expect to have more information in the next three days. Douglas County Sheriff's spokeswoman Cocha Heyden says it's difficult for county, state and public works crews to get around the area, with Highway 67 closed from Deckers to Westcreek Road because of the flooding. Parts of the road are washed out.
(Copyright 2006 by the Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
