Obama to Tour Colorado Wildfires on Friday

The White House says President Barack Obama will tour the scene of devastating wildfires in Colorado on Friday, and thank firefighters battling some of the worst fires to hit the American West in decades.

Obama called Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper on Wednesday, along with the mayor of Colorado Springs, where a raging wildfire destroyed dozens of houses and charred land on the edges of the U.S. Air Force Academy.

The White House says Obama expressed his concern about the extent of damage to homes in the Colorado Springs area, and underscored that the administration is bringing "all resources to bear to assist local responders" in Colorado and other Western states affected by fires.

More than 8,400 personnel, 578 fire engines and 79 helicopters are operating on wildfires around the U.S.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)