Wildfire Postpones U.S. Olympic Bid Discussion

(ATR) Wildfires in Colorado delays talks by the U.S. Olympic Committee about a new bid for the Olympic Games.

The raging fires near Colorado Springs, headquarters for the USOC, have forced 40 staff members to evacuate their homes.

Concern for the welfare of staff led the USOC to postpone a scheduled board meeting Thursday, even though it was to be held 1,500 km west in San Jose, Calif.

Initial talks about a U.S. Olympic bid were set to take place at the meeting. No new date has been set for the meeting said USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky.

Sandusky says the USOC headquarters in downtown Colorado Springs is not in danger from the fires, nor the USOC Training Center a coupleofmiles away.

Dormitories at the training center are being used to house some of the families of USOC staff forced to evacuate their homes.

Some 40,000 people have been evacuated as a result of the fires, which have struck throughout Colorado.

"This is a firestorm of epic proportions," Colorado Springs fire chief Richard Brown told reporters on Tuesday.

Reports say the fire covers 65,000 acres and is barely contained. Adding to fire fighter difficulties, weather forecasts predict temperatures in excess of 100 f.

Written and reported by Ed Hula III

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