Dan Elliott

DENVER — Reporters covering northern Colorado’s massive wildfire cannot enter areas that have been evacuated — an unusual restriction even for this state, where local officials have extensive powers at fire scenes and journalists are usually kept miles from the flames.

LOVELAND, Colo. -- Firefighters in Colorado and New Mexico are making progress containing two large wildfires that have forced hundreds of people from their homes.

The Colorado fire, blamed for a woman's death, was 5 percent contained Tuesday.

Firefighters are hoping to double that progress on the 68 square mile fire 15 miles west of Fort Collins.

Authorities plan to allow 90 residents back to their homes but others elsewhere were being warned to be ready to leave.

DENVER — One resident who was killed in a Colorado wildfire had been warned in person by a firefighter to evacuate, a fire department spokesman said Monday.

CONIFER, Colo. — Bolstered by reinforcements, fire crews were focusing Wednesday on building containment lines around the 7-square-mile wildfire that destroyed dozens of homes in the mountains southwest of Denver and may have claimed two lives.

About 400 firefighters from several states, including Utah, were at the blaze and fire managers hoped to get help from air tankers for a second straight day. The fire, which broke out Monday, has quickly spread because strong winds. Until now, firefighters have been focused on protecting homes.

LONGMONT, Colo. — The Utah family of a 17-year-old girl whose legs were severed while trying to hop a freight train identified the Colorado State University student as Anna Beninati.

Authorities say Beninati’s legs were severed at the knee when she fell under the train on Monday in Longmont, Colo., about 30 miles north of Denver and 30 miles south of Fort Collins, where she attends school. Police say she was trying to get to Fort Collins after a trip to Denver.