Posted: 06/28/2012 at 9:15am | IP Logged

Christian Ministries in Path of Raging Colo. Wildfire

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CBNnews.com

Air Force cadets joined thousands of others forced to flee their homes as a wildfire continued to rage out of control in Colorado, Wednesday.

Record heat and 65 mph winds fanned flames that now threaten residents across four states.

Several Christian ministries are based near the center of the blaze being called a "firestorm of epic proportions."

"My dad called me (and said), 'There's flames a block from your house right now,'" one Colorado Springs resident said.

Carrie Kintz, a publicist with Colorado Springs-based Focus on the Family, spoke with CBN News about how this fire is different from ones in the past and how they are seeing God at work the midst of this disaster. Click play for her comments.

Shawna Miller had just five minutes to pack clothes and pictures and take her three cats.

"I'm so scared. I don't want to lose my home," she said.

More than 32,000 people have ben evacuated, many after the fire jumped a canyon near Colorado Springs. Traffic was at a standstill as a result.

"It's crazy, a parking lot," one driver said. "Flames coming down the hill."

Also on alert are employees and families of several Christian ministries based in Colorado Springs, including Focus on the Family, Compassion International, and the Christian and Missionary Alliance.

Colorado has borne the brunt of the fires, which have charred more than 100,000 acres. But parts of Utah, Wyoming, and Montana are also in danger.

Expected thunderstorms will provide some relief but can also bring trouble.

"Thunderstorms present a unique problem for us in that the wind can come in any direction from those at any time, with pretty strong gusts," Incident Commander Rich Harvey explained.

Officials can't rule out arson as a contributor to some of the fires.

"This is something we take very, very seriously, and if there is some fool out there that's so absurd, such a lunatic to be starting fires in this kind of a drought, they can be guaranteed we will throw everything but the kitchen sink at them in court," Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper said.

Damages from the fire are estimated at $30 million, but the total could go much higher before the blazes are quenched.

More about the ministries on the VIDEO.