Colorado Governor Jared Polis has reported there has been no known loss of life from the devastating wildfires that have claimed over 500 homes.

"We may have our own New Year's miracle on our hands if it holds up that there was no loss of life," Polis said at a press conference on Friday.

No deaths would be "quite the testimony to preparedness and emergency response," he added, as residents only had minutes to evacuate as the blazes spread rapidly due to high winds.

Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle said earlier the fires had eliminated at least 500 homes and destroyed entire subdivisions. The burn area includes approximately 2,000 homes, up to half of which may have been heavily impacted by the fires, authorities said.

Pelle also referred to no deaths as "miraculous" on Friday, and he said authorities do not have the long list of missing persons typical for such incidents, saying only one person was reported missing and they have since been accounted for.

Numerous injuries have been reported, however, including from first responders, and the sheriff said to expect more.

Tens of thousands of people were forced to flee their homes on Thursday, with the towns of Superior and Louisville the first to evacuate. Among the destruction is a Tesla facility that photos show has nearly burnt to the ground.

Thousands in the state remain without power. An official investigation into the fire is underway, though authorities have said high winds blowing up to 105 miles per hour helped spread what was likely a blaze caused by downed power lines.

"The origin of the fire hasn't been confirmed. It's suspected to be power lines," Pelle said.

Entire neighborhoods burned to the ground.

And aerial survey of damage from the Boulder, Colorado wildfire, December 31, 2021

Widespread destruction.

More video from the ground.

A Colorado sheriff who is helping assess damage caused by a wildfire that spread rapidly across an area just outside Denver said Friday he would "not be surprised" if up to 1,000 homes were lost.

Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle made the remark while announcing there were no reports of fatalities or casualties, adding that the one person missing after the Marshall Fire tore through the communities of Louisville and Superior on Thursday has been accounted for and is well.

"I would estimate it is going to be at least 500 homes, I would not be surprised if it's 1,000," Pelle told a reporter Friday when asked about the extent of the damage.

A total damage assessment is still ongoing - but Pelle, who on Friday morning flew over the 6,000 acres burned in the fire - said "we did see entire subdivisions... that are totally gone."

Around three to six inches of snow is expected to fall on the region late Friday into Saturday. The weather pattern should bring moisture to the drought-stricken area and help snuff out the last pockets of flames, according to Pelle.

"At this point, as long as the weather holds up here, there's not going to be substantial additional damage from this fire," Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said Friday.

Polis said he spoke with President Biden this morning, who pledged federal assistance in the wake of the disaster.