US fire death toll at two as Obama tours zone

COLORADO SPRINGS: A shocked US President Barack Obama on Friday toured "heartbroken" Colorado neighborhoods torched by rampaging wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of homes and left two dead.

Crews are still searching for human remains in the ashes of homes destroyed by the Waldo Canyon Fire, which blazed into the outskirts of the state's second largest city Colorado Springs earlier this week.

The inferno has destroyed at least 346 houses and forced some 36,000 residents to evacuate, according to officials. It is still threatening some 20,000 homes and 160 commercial buildings.

Obama saw the smoke from nearby fires as he flew into Colorado Springs aboard Air Force One, then inspected some of the devastation and praised the "courage and determination and professionalism" of firefighters.

"They are genuine heroes," Obama said, after he visited a neighborhood where fires had struck indiscriminately, leaving some homes in ruins and others intact.

"You have a house that's cinders. Next to it, it's untouched," said Obama, who saw homes that had been turned into blackened ruins and several vehicles melted down to the frames. A smell of burnt wood hung in the air.

Ahead of his visit, Obama issued a disaster declaration that releases federal emergency funds.

Colorado Springs police chief Peter Carey announced a second death Friday, after a first body was found late Thursday. The remains of both victims were found in the same burned-out house.

"I'm sorry to report the remains of a second human being were discovered," Carey said, his voice breaking. Police spokeswoman Barbara Miller said the pair were believed to be husband and wife.

Officials fear others could have perished in the blaze that started Saturday, and raged out of control on Tuesday and Wednesday whipped up by high winds.