An estimated 580 homes, a hotel and a shopping centre have burned and tens of thousands of people were evacuated in wind-fuelled wildfires outside Denver, officials said Thursday evening.

The wildfires, spanning 6.5 square kilometres, engulfed parts of the area in smoky, orange skies as residents scrambled to get to safety. The fires quickly swept across the region as winds gusted up to 169 km/h. 

Louisville, Colo., with a population of about 21,000, and Superior, Colo., with 13,000 residents, were both told to evacuate. The neighbouring towns are roughly 30 kilometres northwest of Denver.

Several blazes started in the area Thursday, at least some sparked