Colorado wildfire spreads after destroying structures, triggering evacuation of 200 homes

Colorado fire spreads, destroys buildings

DENVER — A wind-driven wildfire in the rugged Colorado foothills is growing quickly, spreading across 3 1/2 square miles and destroying some structures.

About 200 homes have been evacuated, but no injuries have been reported.

The fire started Monday 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 plume of heavy smoke was visible for miles. The cause was unknown.

Homes and cabins are scattered throughout the area, some in old mining communities and others on isolated lots. Authorities said about 100 buildings were threatened, but they didn’t know how many and what type of structures were destroyed.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

DENVER (AP) — A wildfire in the rugged Colorado foothills destroyed some structures and triggered evacuations on Monday, but no injuries were reported.

The fire broke out in the Four Mile Canyon northwest of Boulder and quickly spread to about 200 acres, forcing closure of at least four roads in the area while sending up plumes of heavy smoke. The cause was unknown.

“It’s fast-moving. We’ve got a lot of wind up there,” Boulder County sheriff’s Cmdr. Rick Brough said. He said emergency crews were concentrating on evacuations.

Homes and cabins are scattered throughout the area, some in old mining communities and others on isolated lots. Authorities said about 100 structures were threatened, but they didn’t know how many and what type of structures were destroyed.

One fire vehicle was destroyed, said Patrick von Keyserling, a spokesman for the Boulder County Office of Emergency Management.

One single-engine air tanker was dispatched to the area and two heavier tankers were on the way, said Steve Segin of the Rocky Mountain Area Coordinating Center, which manages firefighting equipment and crews. It wasn’t immediately clear whether the tankers would be able to fly in the high winds.

Segin said three hotshot ground crews were also en route.

“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.”

Evacuation centers were set up in Boulder and in the mountain village of Nederland, and a shelter for livestock was set up at the Boulder County Fairgrounds in Longmont.

A total of about 40 people had checked in at the two centers by mid-afternoon.

A cold front moving across the state brought gusty winds, which have helped fuel the fire. Winds in the canyon were erratic and gusting to 45 mph, and weren’t expected to slacken until Monday night, said Scott Entrekin, a National Weather Service meteorologist.