Several wind-driven wildfires burned near Boulder and Denver, Colorado Thursday, destroying hundreds of buildings, blanketing the area in smoke and prompting evacuation orders for tens of thousands of people. About 600 homes, a Target shopping complex and a hotel have been destroyed by fire in the area, according to Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle. One fire had burned over 1,600 acres in a suburban area as of Thursday evening, Pelle said at a press conference. Gov. Jared Polis declared a state of emergency Thursday afternoon to allow the state to access emergency funds and services. "This area, for those who don't know this area of Boulder County, is right in and around suburban sub-developments, stores — It's like the neighborhood that you live in," Polis said at the press conference. "1,600 acres near a population center can be, and is in this case, absolutely devastating." 📸: Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY and @apnews