Wind-whipped fires destroy nearly 600 homes near Boulder, Colorado
Boulder County officials believe the fires were started by downed power lines and blown transformers knocked out by high winds
Winds start to die down after fueling large wildfires across Colorado
Winds are dying down after fueling large wildfires across Colorado. So far, the wildfires destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses and forced tens of thousands of Coloradans to evacuate. FOX News reporter Alicia Acuna joins FOX Weather from Louisville, Colorado, with the very latest on these devastating fires,
BOULDER, Colo. - Nearly 600 homes have been destroyed and tens of thousands of people were forced to evacuate after several grass fires exploded in size near Boulder, Colorado and ripped through entire communities amid wind gusts of 75 mph or more.
There are three active fire locations, according to emergency management officials. The Middle Fork Fire at North Foothills Highway and Middle Fork Road and the Marshall Fire has two areas near South Cherryvale Road and Marshall Drive.
Wind-fueled wildfires in Boulder County, CO
Up to 100mph wind gusts helped to fuel fires in Boulder County, Colorado, Thursday. Evacuation orders are in place for several nearby towns as the fires overtake subdivisions.
LIVE UPDATES: Evacuations underway in Colorado for fast-moving fires
Officials said the Marshall Fire is up to 1,600 acres and has burned nearly 600 homes as of Thursday evening. In Superior, a Target Store, a Marriott Hotel and other businesses were among the structures consumed by the blaze. Gov. Jared Polis has declared a state of emergency.
Watch: Colorado brushfire moves in on home
Home security video shows a fire moving towards a property in Boulder, Colorado.
"Here in December, who would have thought we would be fighting a grassland fire?" Polis said later on Thursday.
Winds and the rapid-fire have knocked out power to over 50,000 people in Colorado on Thursday evening. More than 20,000 in Boulder County were without power, including those in Superior and Louisville trying to evacuate. FOX 31 in Denver reports that the wildfires have impacted an energy company's natural gas infrastructure, so to decrease the strain on the system, the company is putting in place controlled electrical outages in several counties.
Boulder County officials believe the fires were started by downed power lines and blown transformers knocked out by high winds. Strong gusts from Larimer and Boulder counties exceeded 75 mph. Boulder's official observation was recorded at 75 mph gust while a gauge at the National Center for Atmospheric Research measured a 90 mph gust. Farther west toward the foothills west of Avarda, a wind gauge measured a gust of 115 mph.
Colorado wildfire estimated to have destroyed nearly 600 homes
60 mph winds push Colorado wildfire into neighborhoods, vehicles engulfed.
‘Life-threatening situation’
The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office began receiving reports early on Thursday of several fires spotted near North Broadway and another near North Foothills and Middle Fork.
The entire town of Superior was told to evacuate on Thursday afternoon, and the evacuation point was located at the North Boulder Recreation Center. The South Boulder Recreation Center lost power and is closed to evacuees.
The situation in Superior deteriorated rapidly as a video shows Costco shoppers running to evacuate as smoke filled the air.
Chaos at Colorado Costco: Shoppers evacuate as grassfires spread
Video shows shoppers evacuating a Costco in Superior, Colorado as high winds make for dangerous grassfire conditions.
Soon after Superior, the entire city of Louisville, with a population of about 20,000 people, was also ordered to evacuate immediately.
"Life threatening situation in Superior and Louisville areas! Fast-moving fires are in the area. Gather more information and please be prepared to evacuate immediately," the NWS Boulder advised.
Hours after the incident began, mandatory evection orders were expanded to areas south of U.S. 36, including the Interlocken community in Broomfield. Surrounding neighborhoods are being told to stand by and be prepared to leave.
"We were not expecting this at all today," said AJ Lauer, who had to grab her family and evacuate her neighborhood. She said she was out on a hike and running errands in Boulder when the fire started.
"When I drove back and as soon as I got on the highway it was clear there was a fire," she told FOX Weather. "Video doesn't capture how creepy it was. You can't really capture the full depth of the variety of scary colors that were happening in front of me…it was very, very scary."
View the latest evacuation zone below:
After receiving reports of power outages delaying evacuees who could not open their garage doors to leave, the Office of Emergency Management reminded people to pull the red emergency handle on garage doors to quickly get out.
The Boulder Office of Emergency Management said residents who see fire should immediately evacuate and go northeast. Three evacuation centers are open at the North Boulder Recreation Center and the Longpoint Senior Center on Longs Peak Avenue in Longmont and the Lafayette YMCA.
National Guard members are en route to help overnight with evacuations.
Polis took to Twitter on Thursday afternoon while crews battled the flames.
"Prayers for the thousands of families evacuating from the fires in Superior and Boulder County," he said on Twitter. "Fast winds are spreading flames quickly and all aircraft are grounded."
Boulder County has started a fund to help the community recover after the fire. Donations can be made online, at this link.
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Image 1 of 30BROOMFIELD, COLORADO - DECEMBER 30: The Marshall Fire continues to burn out of control on December 30, 2021 in Broomfield, Colorado. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) ( )
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Image 2 of 30BROOMFIELD, COLORADO - DECEMBER 30: The Marshall Fire continues to burn out of control on December 30, 2021 in Broomfield, Colorado. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) ( )
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Image 3 of 30BROOMFIELD, COLORADO - DECEMBER 30: The Marshall Fire continues to burn out of control on December 30, 2021 in Broomfield, Colorado. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) ( )
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Image 4 of 30Flames engulf homes as the Marshall Fire spreads through a neighborhood in the town of Superior in Boulder County, Colorado on December 30, 2021. - Hundreds of homes are feared lost in fast-moving wildfires in the US state of Colorado, officials said Thursday, as flames tear through areas desiccated by a historic drought. At least 1,600 acres have burned in Boulder County, much of it suburban, with warnings that deaths and injuries were likely as the blaze engulfes hotels and shopping centers. Extreme winds topping 100 mph caused grass fires to quickly spread into the Colorado towns of Superior and Louisville resulting in the mandatory evacuation of over 30,000 residents. Colorado Governor Jared Polis has declared a state of emergency due to the grass fires in Boulder County. (Photo by Jason Connolly / AFP) (Photo by JASON CONNOLLY/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
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Image 5 of 30BROOMFIELD, COLORADO - DECEMBER 30: The Marshall Fire continues to burn out of control on December 30, 2021 in Broomfield, Colorado. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) ( )
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Image 6 of 30LOUISVILLE, CO - DECEMBER 30: Fire surrounds homes in neighborhoods on December 30, 2021 in Louisville, Colorado. Fierce winds have whipped wildfires in Boulder County, The towns of Superior and Louisville have been evacuated. Multiple homes and businesses have burned so far from the fast moving fire stocked by fierce winds, with gusts topping 100 mph, along the foothills.(Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post ( )
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Image 7 of 30A home burns after a fast moving wildfire swept through the area in the Centennial Heights neighborhood of Louisville, Colorado on December 30, 2021. State officials estimated some 600 homes had already been lost in multiple areas around Boulder County and were fueled by winds that gusted upwards of 100 miles per hour at times during the day. (Photo by Marc Piscotty/Getty Images) ( )
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Image 8 of 30BROOMFIELD, COLORADO - DECEMBER 30: The Marshall Fire continues to burn out of control on December 30, 2021 in Broomfield, Colorado. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) ( )
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Image 9 of 30BROOMFIELD, COLORADO - DECEMBER 30: The Marshall Fire continues to burn out of control on December 30, 2021 in Broomfield, Colorado. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) ( )
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Image 10 of 30LOUISVILLE, CO - DECEMBER 30: Two homes burn after being consumed by wildfire in the Centennial Heights neighborhood on December 30, 2021 in Louisville, Colorado. State officials estimated some 600 homes had already been lost in multiple areas around Boulder County and were fueled by winds that gusted upwards of 100 miles per hour at times during the day. (Photo by Marc Piscotty/Getty Images) ( )
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Image 11 of 30Flames engulf homes as the Marshall Fire spreads through a neighborhood in the town of Superior in Boulder County, Colorado on December 30, 2021. - Hundreds of homes are feared lost in fast-moving wildfires in the US state of Colorado, officials said Thursday, as flames tear through areas desiccated by a historic drought. At least 1,600 acres have burned in Boulder County, much of it suburban, with warnings that deaths and injuries were likely as the blaze engulfes hotels and shopping centers. Extreme winds topping 100 mph caused grass fires to quickly spread into the Colorado towns of Superior and Louisville resulting in the mandatory evacuation of over 30,000 residents. Colorado Governor Jared Polis has declared a state of emergency due to the grass fires in Boulder County. (Photo by Jason Connolly / AFP) (Photo by JASON CONNOLLY/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
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Image 12 of 30Flames engulf homes as the Marshall Fire spreads through a neighborhood in the town of Superior in Boulder County, Colorado on December 30, 2021. - Hundreds of homes are feared lost in fast-moving wildfires in the US state of Colorado, officials said Thursday, as flames tear through areas desiccated by a historic drought. At least 1,600 acres have burned in Boulder County, much of it suburban, with warnings that deaths and injuries were likely as the blaze engulfes hotels and shopping centers. Extreme winds topping 100 mph caused grass fires to quickly spread into the Colorado towns of Superior and Louisville resulting in the mandatory evacuation of over 30,000 residents. Colorado Governor Jared Polis has declared a state of emergency due to the grass fires in Boulder County. (Photo by Jason Connolly / AFP) (Photo by JASON CONNOLLY/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
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Image 13 of 30Flames engulf homes as the Marshall Fire spreads through a neighborhood in the town of Superior in Boulder County, Colorado on December 30, 2021. - Hundreds of homes are feared lost in fast-moving wildfires in the US state of Colorado, officials said Thursday, as flames tear through areas desiccated by a historic drought. At least 1,600 acres have burned in Boulder County, much of it suburban, with warnings that deaths and injuries were likely as the blaze engulfes hotels and shopping centers. Extreme winds topping 100 mph caused grass fires to quickly spread into the Colorado towns of Superior and Louisville resulting in the mandatory evacuation of over 30,000 residents. Colorado Governor Jared Polis has declared a state of emergency due to the grass fires in Boulder County. (Photo by Jason Connolly / AFP) (Photo by JASON CONNOLLY/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
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Image 14 of 30LOUISVILLE, CO - DECEMBER 30: Two homes burn during a wildfire in the Centennial Heights neighborhood on December 30, 2021 in Louisville, Colorado. State officials estimated some 600 homes had already been lost in multiple areas around Boulder County and were fueled by winds that gusted upwards of 100 miles per hour at times during the day. (Photo by Marc Piscotty/Getty Images) ( )
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Image 15 of 30BROOMFIELD, COLORADO - DECEMBER 30: The Marshall Fire continues to burn out of control on December 30, 2021 in Broomfield, Colorado. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) ( )
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Image 16 of 30BROOMFIELD, COLORADO - DECEMBER 30: The Marshall Fire continues to burn out of control on December 30, 2021 in Broomfield, Colorado. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) ( )
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Image 17 of 30BROOMFIELD, COLORADO - DECEMBER 30: The Marshall Fire continues to burn out of control on December 30, 2021 in Broomfield, Colorado. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) ( )
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Image 18 of 30LOUISVILLE, CO - DECEMBER 30: Burnt out vehicles sit amidst the smoke and haze after a fast moving wildfire swept through the area in the Centennial Heights neighborhood of Louisville, Colorado on December 30, 2021. State officials estimated some 600 homes had already been lost in multiple areas around Boulder County and were fueled by winds that gusted upwards of 100 miles per hour at times during the day. (Photo by Marc Piscotty/Getty Images) ( )
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Image 19 of 30A tractor-trailer was blown over due to strong winds in the Boulder, Colorado, area as smoke from a grassfire rises in the background. (@AmyParulis/Twitter)
![Photos of the Marshall Fire in Superior, CO on Dec. 30, 2021.]()
Image 20 of 30Photos of the Marshall Fire in Superior, CO on Dec. 30, 2021. (Image: Aaron Rigsby/LSM) ( )
![Photos of the Marshall Fire in Superior, CO on Dec. 30, 2021.]()
Image 21 of 30Photos of the Marshall Fire in Superior, CO on Dec. 30, 2021. (Image: Aaron Rigsby/LSM) ( )
![Photos of the Marshall Fire in Superior, CO on Dec. 30, 2021.]()
Image 22 of 30Photos of the Marshall Fire in Superior, CO on Dec. 30, 2021. (Image: Aaron Rigsby/LSM) ( )
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Image 23 of 30BROOMFIELD, COLORADO - DECEMBER 30: The Marshall Fire continues to burn out of control on December 30, 2021 in Broomfield, Colorado. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) ( )
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Image 24 of 30BROOMFIELD, COLORADO - DECEMBER 30: The Marshall Fire continues to burn out of control on December 30, 2021 in Broomfield, Colorado. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) ( )
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Image 25 of 30A home burns after a fast moving wildfire swept through the area in the Centennial Heights neighborhood of Louisville, Colorado on December 30, 2021. (Marc Piscotty)
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Image 26 of 30BROOMFIELD, COLORADO - DECEMBER 30: The Marshall Fire continues to burn out of control on December 30, 2021 in Broomfield, Colorado. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) ( )
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Image 27 of 30A view of the grassfires in Boulder from 60 miles away in Parker, CO. (Image: Heather Brinkmann/FOX Weather) ( )
![A screenshot of a grassfire near the National Weather Service Office in Boulder. (Image: NWS Boulder)]()
Image 28 of 30A screenshot of a grassfire near the National Weather Service Office in Boulder on Dec. 30, 2021. (Image: NWS Boulder) ( )
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Image 29 of 30Several grassfires have been reported near Boulder, Colorado. (CJ)
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Image 30 of 30Burnt out vehicles sit amidst the smoke and haze after a fast moving wildfire swept through the area in the Centennial Heights neighborhood of Louisville, Colorado on December 30, 2021. State officials estimated some 600 homes had already been lost in multiple areas around Boulder County and were fueled by winds that gusted upwards of 100 miles per hour at times during the day. (Photo by Marc Piscotty/Getty Images) ( )
High winds and dry conditions conspire for dangerous fire conditions
According to the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center, Elevated fire weather conditions were present in the High Plans on Thursday afternoon, including eastern Colorado, eastern New Mexico and West Texas. High wind warnings were in effect for much of the day but were canceled Thursday evening.
Dry conditions in eastern Colorado with dew points in the single digits and freezing temperatures could cause flames to spread rapidly. The strongest winds below 6,000 feet are expected near the base of the foothills from Boulder north to Fort Collins to the Wyoming border.
Colorado Gov.: This fire is a 'force of nature'
Gov. Jared Polis and the Boulder, Colorado Office of Emergency Management provide an update on the developing wildfire situation.
The Colorado Department of Transportation is reporting multiple road closures due to fire and wind. U.S. 36 (Boulder Turnpike) are closed in both directions at Nolan Drive near Lyons.
Winds to taper Thursday night, then snow arrives
Gusting winds have tapered off Thursday night and snow is in the forecast Friday, both could help firefighting efforts.
(FOX Weather)
The Boulder area is expecting over a foot of snow starting Thursday night and lasting into Saturday.