A group of wildfires threaten thousands of residents throughout Colorado and hundreds of inmates from an area prison. The fires have destroyed nearly a hundred homes and nearly seven thousand people have evacuated the area. Officials report that 2,300 homes are directly threatened by the flames. About a thousand prisoners had to be transported from an area prison, mainly as a precaution, as moving prisoners is a long process.

The largest fire, the Black Forest Fire, has spread to 48 miles in El Paso County on Wednesday afternoon. The cause of this flame is unknown. Another smaller fire broke out Monday, caused by a lightning bolt. Just under 500 firefighters are working to contain the flames throughout the state.

Authorities announced a voluntary evacuation on Wednesday in the area north of Colorado Springs. The state Governor, John Hickenlooper, has declared this a disaster, which opens up $5.5 million in emergency funding.

No deaths or injuries have yet been reported.

[image via AP]