# disaster
Firefighters were doing their best Thursday night to protect homes in the line of a fast-moving wildfire that has shocked the state, at a time when there should normally be December snow on the ground.
The Marshall Fire, south of Boulder, was fueled by winds of more than 100 miles per hour that downed power lines and started the fire.
On Thursday night, officials confirmed that at least 580 homes had been destroyed, making the Marshall Fire the most destructive property destruction in state history.
Thursday's second fire, the Middle Fork Fire, started at 10:30 a.m. north of Boulder but was contained by mid-afternoon without burning any structures.
The non-seasonal fires came after smaller fires were reported in the state, at the end of an extremely dry summer and fall.
Colorado's unusually high spring rainfall has been followed by a severe drought: since April 1, Boulder has received less than a quarter of its typical rain and snow during the five-month period.
Spring rains caused brush to surge and then dry out in the hot summer, making perfect tinder for Thursday's fire.