CBA, several Christian publishers and authors in Colorado Springs, Colo., are expressing a sense of relief as the most destructive blaze in the state's history was nearing containment.

Nearly 500 houses have been burned and two killed by the 22-square-mile Black Forest fire, which is 65% contained after it began nearly a week ago. Crews hope to have the blaze, located outside Colorado Springs, fully under control by Thursday, the Associated Press reported.

WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group Publicity Manager Beverly Rykerd told Christian Retailing that the company's offices reopened today after closing Thursday and Friday. WaterBrook Multnomah has a staff of 45 people in Colorado Springs.

"No homes were lost among WaterBrook Multnomah's staff—praise God," said Rykerd, who was able to return to her Black Forest home Saturday night after being evacuated. "All is well in my neighborhood. The situation looks a lot better today in Colorado."

Rick Christian, founder of Alive Communications and Bondfire Books, said several employees of his literary agency, including his family, were evacuated.

"We did not close because our offices aren't in the fire zone, and so our offices became a storage place for displaced fire victims," said Christian, who lives in the Black Forest area. "While our homes are safe so far, we're surrounded by smoke and the heartache of others who didn't have advance notice and escaped with just the clothes on their backs or who couldn't reach their homes because the fire spread so fast.

"I was personally moved by the generosity of those who reached out to us," he added. "Last year with the Waldo Canyon fire, we took four families into our home. This year, those same families reached out to us in extraordinary ways. The helpers became the helped."

The Black Forest fire is located near last June's devastating Waldo Canyon Fire, which destroyed 346 homes and killed two, USA Today reported.

CBA President Curtis Riskey said no employees of the Association for Christian Retail lost their home to the fire.

"One team member was evacuated, and we had another prepared to leave at a moment's notice who lives just outside the pre-evacuation zone," he said. "We are heavily engaged today and this week in final preparations for ICRS [International Christian Retail Show, set for June 23-26 in St. Louis]."

Left Behind best-selling author Jerry B. Jenkins, who lives in the Black Forest area, posted on his Facebook page that his house was "unscathed."

"Night rain helped and firefighters are optimistic about containment within 24 hours," said Jenkins, who evacuated 85 miles to the west Friday with his wife, Dianna. "Then Black Forest moves from crisis mode to rebuilding."

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