KVIA crews takes part in coverage of Colorado wildfire

Hundreds of firefighters on the frontlines in Colorado continue to battle an enraged wildfire that has already charred 15,000 acres near Colorado Springs.

More than 30,000 residents have been forced to evacuate their homes, many of which weregiven a short notice by officials.

Also in Colorado Springs, an ABC-7 crew, KVIA’s Matthew Smith and Gerardo Najera, are there assisting sister station KRDO with its 24-hour coverage.

Many of KRDO’s staff are now victims of the disaster.

“The people that are actually working at thisTV station are no different than the people who live in the city. They’re affected just like everybody else. Some have been evacuated from their homes, some have lost their homes. The story’s larger than you can imagine,” said Smith in a phone interview.

Multi-media journalist, Najera said many staff members of KRDO have been working for four days straight.

The Waldo Canyon wildfire is said to have spread because of the unpredictable winds.

Tuesday, 65 mile per hour winds carried off hot embers, some of them weighing up to a pound, and landing on homes.

Crews have notcoralled the fire, containment is still at0 percent.

The intense flames has kept officials from assessing the damage and the number of buildings and homes destroyed remains unknown.