ALERT OR CAST. >>> MARIJUANA TAX MONEY TO FUND ITS POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE NEWS STARTS NOW. >>> WE ARE COVERING COLORADO FIRST TONIGHT FROM THE FIRST ALERT WEATHER CENTER. THERE WERE THREE BIG WIND GUST SURGES THAT CREATED THEM DANGEROUS CONDITIONS ACROSS THE STATE TODAY. >> SPOTS IN THE FOOTHILLS WITH WIND GUST TOPPING 50 MILES AN HOUR. THOSE BREEZES FUELED A FIRE IN DOUGLAS COUNTY. NEIGHBORHOODS TO GO ON PRE-EVACUATION STATUS FOR ABOUT AN HOUR TODAY. >> A BRINDA HUNDRED AND 50 ACRES BEFORE CREWS WERE ABLE TO GET IT UNDER CONTROL. THE STRONG WIND ALSO HELPED WITH THAT PUT U.S. OFFICIALS ON HIGH ALERT. ALLEN? >> Reporter: FIRST OF ALL THE U.S. MILITARY SAYS THIS BALLOON IS NOT A THREAT. ONE MILITARY SOURCE SAYS IT IS LIKELY OVER GEORGIA TONIGHT. NORA IN COLORADO SPRINGS IS TRACKING AND STAYING IN TOUCH WITH THE FAA. A POTENTIAL CONCERN FOR AVIATION SAFETY MIGHT BE ALL THIS BALLOON IS. JUST THINKING ABOUT IT BROUGHT BACK SOME RATHER UNNERVING TIMES. >> NOTHING IS NOT THE MOON. >> Reporter: IT WAS A YEAR AGO THAT A CHINESE BALLOON MADE IT TRACK ACROSS THE U.S., RATTLING THE NATION. ULTIMATELY, THE MILITARY SHOT IT DOWN OFF THE EAST COAST. DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WAS SOMEWHERE IN THE SKIES OVER UTAH AND LIKELY COLORADO THIS DAY. >> IT IS NOT CLEAR AT THIS POINT WHERE THIS PARTICULAR OBJECT ORIGINATED FROM. THAT IS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WITH BALLOONS. >> Reporter: THE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR NATIONAL SECURITY INITIATIVES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO AT BOULDER. HE PAYS ATTENTION TO SUCH THINGS. THIS TIME THE MILITARY SAYS THE BALLOON IS ABOUT 50 FEET HIGH WITH A TWO FOOT BOX BENEATH. BE BALLOON LAST YEAR WAS 200 FEET IN CARRYING THE EQUIVALENT OF TWO TRAIN CARDS OF EQUIPMENT LEADING TO AN INTERNATIONAL INCIDENT. >> UNLESS I REALLY WANTED TO AGGRAVATE THE U.S. WAS TO FLY A SPY BALLOON OVER THE U.S. RIGHT? AFTER ALL THE HOOPLA THAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR. >> Reporter: IT BRINGS UP AGAIN, QUESTIONS OF WHAT IS OUT THERE. >> THIS IS 84 INCHES WIDE. I CAN UNRAVEL IT A BIT MORE LIKE THIS. >> IF SOMEBODY SEES THAT THEY ARE GOING TO SAY WHAT IS THAT. >> RIGHT. >> YEAH. >> Reporter: TWO AEROSPACE STUDENTS PREPARING FOR THE LAUNCH COMPETITION SHOW ACE -- A PARACHUTE THEY USED TO. EIGHT BUT ROCKET DOWN TO EARTH. ONE OF THE MANY THINGS THAT SCARE -- SURE THESE GUYS AIRCRAFT NAVIGATE. BALLOONS ARE LESS CONTROLLABLE THAN OTHER THINGS LIKE DRONES AND EASIER TO TRACK. >> IT SEEMS LIKE THE PROCESS HAS WORKED BETTER THAN IT DID A YEAR AGO. RIGHT? I THINK ALL OF THAT IS A GOOD THING. IN THE END, WE REALLY WANT TO UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING THAT IS FLYING ABOVE US IN OUR AIRSPACE. >> Reporter: DRONES ARE FAR MORE CONTROLLABLE AS WE HAVE SEEN RECENTLY. THEY ARE BEING USED IN WAR CURRENTLY. BOTH IN UKRAINE AND IN THE MIDDLE EAST. BALLOONS HAVE BEEN USED IN THE PAST BY THE U.S. MILITARY IN PLACES LIKE AFGHANISTAN. THIS ONE FROM ITS DESCRIPTION SEEMS MORE LIKELY A