The Aspen Acres Fire, one of about 40 wildfires burning across western US, has destroyed homes and forced evacuations.

A fast-moving wildfire burning southwest of Denver has forced thousands of people to flee, as strong winds continue to drive flames across southern Colorado.

The blaze is one of about 40 large fires currently burning across the western United States.

Dubbed the Aspen Acres Fire, the conflagration exploded in size, growing by 44 square kilometres (17 square miles) overnight to reach a total of 272sq kilometres (105sq miles) by Friday.

More than 160 structures have been destroyed in the fire. Experts say that months of dry weather and record-low snowfall in parts of the region – exacerbated by climate change – have created dangerous wildfire conditions.

Authorities have ordered the evacuation of about 2,200 people in Colorado City, along with residents of the nearby communities of Beulah, Rye and San Isabel.

Smoke from the fire has also disrupted travel, with Colorado emergency officials warning that visibility in parts along Interstate 25 has dropped to as little as a half a mile – or 0.8 kilometres.

As the fire continues to spread, about 50 Colorado National Guard soldiers were deployed to staff road checkpoints in Pueblo and Custer counties and help keep boats away from the Pueblo Reservoir, where crews were scooping water to battle the blaze.

Investigators have said the Aspen Acres Fire was caused by humans, but they have not yet released any other details.

The Aspen Acres Fire is only one of the blazes currently ravaging Colorado and its neighbouring states.

Firefighters, for instance, have contained only about 65 percent of the Snyder Fire on the western side of the Rocky Mountains, along the border between Colorado and Utah.

In Utah itself, another blaze — the Cottonwood Fire — had grown to more than 380sq kilometres (147sq miles) by Friday, while the Babylon Fire had reached 344sq kilometres (133sq miles).

The latest fires come less than a week after three firefighters were killed, and two others were injured after they were overtaken by flames while battling two fires, part of the Snyder complex.

Wildfire smoke advisories are in effect for parts of Colorado, and concerns about wildfires are also beginning to reshape local Fourth of July celebrations.

Colorado’s Division of Fire Prevention and Control said several professional firework displays have already been cancelled because of the extreme fire risk, with many counties now under fire restrictions.

The National Weather Service kept Red Flag Warnings in place across much of the state on Friday, saying that hot, dry conditions, low humidity and gusty winds would continue to create critical fire conditions.

While forecasters said moister weather over the weekend should help lessen the risks, they also warned that heavier rain could increase the possibility of flash flooding in recently burned areas.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – Colorado Springs police arrested a suspect late Thursday night after he was suspected of starting a vehicle fire.

Colorado Springs police said at about 12:15 p.m., officers were called to the 2100 block of Vickers Drive, near North Academy Boulevard, to assist Colorado Springs firefighters with a vehicle fire.

During the investigation, police said officers learned that the suspect broke the front window and threw a lit object into the cab of the vehicle.

The vehicle was then engulfed in flames and was a complete loss, police said.

No one was in the parked vehicle at the time of the fire, police said.

At about 11 p.m., police said officers located and arrested the suspect, identified as 32-year-old Graison Dortch in the 4300 block of N Chestnut Street, near I-25 and Garden of the Gods Road.

Dortch was booked into the El Paso County Jail on charges of second-degree arson and use of an incendiary device, police said. Officers said both are class five felonies.

According to court records, as of Friday morning, Dortch is being held on no bond.