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At least 3 dead in northern Colorado flash floods

LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. — Flash floods and a mudslide claimed at least three lives in northern Colorado last week, while one woman remains missing.

To date, the bodies of two men and one woman have been recovered after floodwaters swept through Poudre Canyon, KMGH-TV reported.

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The Larimer County Coroner’s Office has only identified two of the victims: Patricia Brown, 59, of Madison, Wisconsin, whose body was recovered Wednesday from the Poudre River; and David Brown, 61, of San Antonio, Texas, whose body was recovered Sunday, the TV station reported.

The identity of the second male victim, pulled from the river Monday, has not been released, and the identity of the missing woman remains unknown, KMGH-TV reported.

One local official told The New York Times that recent wildfires, including 2020′s Cameron Peak Fire, may be to blame for the treacherous conditions of late, including the mudslide that destroyed at least six structures and one home, as well as damaging a road.

“This tragedy was a glimpse into the challenges that homeowners and recreators will continue to face” as wildfires leave lasting effects on the land, Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith told the outlet.

“Once ordinary rains will continue to create damaging and sometimes deadly effects,” he added.

The Cameron Peak Fire, which scorched more than 200,000 acres between August and December 2020, was the largest wildfire in Colorado’s history and directly impacted Poudre Canyon, the Times reported.

According to KMGH-TV, the flooding started in the canyon at around 6 p.m. Tuesday above Rustic, resulting in the mudslide near Black Hollow Road. Meanwhile, the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Wednesday that the missing woman and three recovered victims were all are associated with the same Black Hollow Road residence.