COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (CNN) - The Waldo Canyon fire has raged on for more than a week, scorching close to 27-square miles near Colorado Springs.

This time lapse video shows the blaze over the course of five days. You can see the growing amount of thick smoke and glowing flames.  

At least two people have died in the fire.  

More than 36-thousand were forced from their homes. Some of those evacuees were allowed to return Sunday via bus tours to survey the damage.

Although preliminary estimates by fire officials find that nearly 350 homes are destroyed.

Firefighters now have the fire 45-percent contained