Blustery winds that have fanned a raging Colorado wildfire this week are expected to gust into Friday evening, possibly pushing the flames into the city of Boulder, the National Weather Service said.

Forecasters have issued a red flag warning for Fourmile Canyon and other foothill locations in Boulder, Jefferson and Larimer counties.

On Thursday, Boulder authorities warned some city residents to prepare to evacuate as winds gusting as high as 50 mph threatened to drive the wildfire out of the hills and into city limits.

The fire, which is 30 percent contained, already has charred nearly 6,400 acres of countryside and destroyed 169 homes west of Boulder. No additional homes were damaged or destroyed overnight, according to a fire official.

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