Colo. fire destroys buildings, triggers evacuation of up to 400 homes; no injuries reported

Colorado fire destroys homes, triggers evacuations

DENVER — A wind-driven wildfire broke out in the rugged Colorado foothills and quickly spread across 4 square miles Monday, destroying some homes and triggering evacuations of hundreds of others.

No injuries were reported. Authorities could not say how many structures burned down, but they said at least some of them were houses.

The fire started in Four Mile Canyon northwest of Boulder, and erratic winds gusting to 45 mph spread the flames both to the west and northeast.

At least four roads in the area were closed, and a billowing, white plume of heavy smoke was visible for miles. County health officials advised residents to stay indoors if the smoky air became irritating.

The cause of the fire was unknown.

Boulder County sheriff’s Cmdr. Rick Brough said the fire moved quickly through difficult country.

“It’s very rocky, hilly, mountainous terrain,” he said.

About 200 homes scattered in and near the canyon were evacuated earlier in the day. Authorities said residents of seven other subdivisions were ordered to evacuate by Monday night.

They included at least 200 additional homes, but the total wasn’t immediately known.

The Boulder County Emergency Management Office website said the county’s telephone alert system wasn’t working properly and advised residents in the evacuation areas to leave rather than waiting for a call from authorities.

Emergency Management spokesman James Burrus said the area was too big for authorities to go door-to-door, and officials were relying on the media to alert residents.

At least 100 buildings were threatened and one fire vehicle was destroyed. No details on the vehicle were available, Burrus said.

About 100 ground crew members were on the scene and 75 more were on standby, Brough said.

Late in the day, winds subsided enough that three aerial tankers were able to begin dropping fire retardant shortly before 6 p.m.

“It was tremendously dark about an hour ago,” said Marilyn Cole, who was working at the Country Corner Store in Hygiene, about 10 miles northeast of the fire. “It’s very, extremely hazy.”

The Red Cross set up an overnight evacuation center at the Coors Events Center on the University of Colorado campus in Boulder.

A shelter for livestock was set up at the Boulder County Fairgrounds in Longmont.