A wildfire burning southwest of Denver forced the evacuation of thousands of residents and destroyed more than 160 structures as erratic winds pushed the blaze across two Colorado counties. The Aspen Acres fire is one of about 40 uncontained large blazes burning mostly in the West on Friday, fueled by months of dry weather and a record lack of snow this past winter in some places. Fire personnel were scooping water from the Pueblo Reservoir to fight the Aspen Acres fire. All of Colorado City, an unincorporated community of about 2,200, was ordered evacuated as well as Beulah, Rye and San Isabel. About 50 National Guard soldiers were being sent to checkpoints on roads in Custer and Pueblo counties.