Smoke rises from the Black Forest Fire near Colorado Springs.(Kirk Siegler / NPR)

A December wildfire tore through neighborhoods near Boulder, Colorado destroying hundreds of homes before it was extinguished the next day.

The fire left its fingerprints all over the area. Months later, residents had a smoky taste and smell in their water. That required an expensive fix, one that could become more common in towns and cities across the west. KUNC's Alex Hager reports for the Mountain West News Bureau.