- At least 580 homes were destroyed in the Marshall Fire, which occurred in Boulder and Denver.
- Broomfield residents were evacuated.
- Wind gusts exceeded 100 mph.
Colorado’s front range residents between Denver and Boulder have been waiting for word from the authorities on whether their homes survived a fast moving wildfire that forced them to evacuate two towns.
The Marshall Fire destroyed at least 580 homes in Boulder County, Louisville, and Superior.
Dry conditions and winds of more than 100 mph fuelled the fires that caused more then 30,000 people to flee roads choked by smoke, fire, and dust.
Here are the most recent updates
Residents Want to Stay Away
People living in evacuation zones should not return to their homes until they are informed that it is safe.
The Boulder County Office of Emergency Management tweeted Friday morning, “We know you are concerned about the safety of your home/belongings,” “We will notify the Boulder County Office of Emergency Management about re-entering you homes as soon and as possible!”
Officials to Provide an Update Friday Morning
Officials from Boulder County will hold a briefing at 10 AM MST. It will be livestreamed here.
Fires, Winds Prompt Power Outages
According to poweroutage.us about 15,000 homes and businesses in Boulder County were without electricity at 7:15 a.m. MST.
Winds Gusted Over 100 MPH
Boulder’s National Weather Service reported the following: windsOn Thursday, Boulder County recorded gusts up to108 mph. Other parts of the region saw even higher gusts with 115 mph recorded in Arvada, near Denver in Jefferson County.
Clear Creek, Douglas and Elbert reported wind speeds exceeding 55 mph in several other counties, including Gilpin, Grand Larimer, Gilpin, Gilpin, Gilpin, Gilpin, Gilpin, Weld.
High winds are not uncommon in this part of Colorado. However, dry conditions are common at this time of the year.
“One of the many factorsThe recent record dryness is what caused the wildfires today,” the NWS tweeted late on Thursday night. “For all the periods between Jul 1st and Dec 29th (essentially the second part of the year), Denver was the driest place on record by more than an inch. Also, snowfall is at an all-time low.
The U.S. Drought monitor’s latest update was released Thursday. It shows that Colorado is experiencing severe or extreme drought.
A winter storm will bring snow to areas that have been ravaged by fire on Friday and Saturday. Winter storm warnings have been issued for parts of Boulder, Fort Collins, and the western Denver metropolitan area. Click here to see the full forecast.
Lifted Broomfield Evacuations
Evacuation and Pre-evacuation Orders have been issued liftedAccording to a tweet sent by police at approximately 6:30 a.m. EST, the Broomfield area is being investigated.
Downed Power Lines may have sparked fires
Thursday afternoon saw several fires started. The Associated Press reported that some were started by downed powerlines during high winds.
Marshall Fire Exploded and Burned Hundreds of Homes
After it was started just after 11 a.m., the Marshall Fire exploded to 1,600 acre. It then erupted east into heavily populated suburban areas, igniting at least 370 homes within the Sagamore subdivision in Louisville and 210 others throughout old town Superior.
It also set fire to the Target shopping center and the Superior Element Hotel.
Both towns, home to around 34,000 people, were evacuated.
Officials Say Blaze Could Make Colorado’s Winter the Worst
9News reports that the Marshall Fire – which destroyed 600 structures – could be the most destructive in Colorado history in terms the number of homes lost.
Reports of Injuries
According to the AP at least one of the first responders and six civilians were hurt.
Joe Pelle, Boulder County Sheriff, warned that there are more injuries and even deaths.
“This is the kind of fire we can’t fight head on. Pelle stated that there were firefighters and deputy sheriffs in the areas that had to be pulled out because they had become overrun.
“I would like to stress that due to the size of this fire, its intensity, and its presence within such a densely populated area, it is not surprising that there could be injuries or deaths.”
Declare an Emergency
Gov. Jared Polis declared a State of Emergency, which gives access to potential disaster relief funds. The National Guard was activated.
Dry, Windy Conditions Added to the Flames
The Marshall Fire was just one of many that were driven by extremely dry conditions and wind gusts exceeding 100 mph.
Thursday’s fire crews stated that they didn’t believe they could contain the blaze until winds had subsided. Pelle stated that firefighters and officers had to evacuate after being overwhelmed by the flames.
Polis stated, “This is the type of fire you can’t put out.” “This fire does not depend on your resources. This fire is a force in nature.
This is a still developing story. Please check back often for new updates Visit the Boulder County Emergency PageFor more information.
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Source: Weather.com
