In an area under extreme drought conditions, hurricane-force winds ignited a large 6,200 acre fire in Boulder County, forcing over 34,000 to evacuate, destroying nearly, 1,000 homes and structures and leaving two feared dead.

Evening Update January 2, 2022

  • Denver Post reports that the fire is now 74% contained.
  • The investigation on what started the fire contiues.

 

Morning Update January 2, 2022

  • One of the three missing people has been accounted for, alive.
  • 9News reports that a search warrant was executed on a property in Boulder County where a barn on fire may have started the massive devastation.
  • The fire is 62% contained.
  • Excel Energy expects to have gas restored to most customers by the end of Sunday, January 2, 2022.
  • The Town of Superior will be turning off the water to rebuild pressure that was lost fighting the fire, as well as to keep the pipes from freezing.
  • It's being reported that a 24-year-old male, whose home was destroyed, was arrested after threatening firefighters with a firearm.
  • Thousands from across the state have come together to help the Superior and Louisville communities.
 

Afternoon Update January 1, 2022

  • The Denver Post reports that three people are missing and feared dead.
  • 991 homes have been destroyed, an additional 127 damaged.
  • The list of destroyed homes and businesses spans 23 pages.
  • They are still investigating to determine the cause of the fire.

Morning Update January 1, 202

  • 9News and Colorado Sun report that there are two missing people.
  • The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
  • Some, but nowhere near the tens of thousands that have been evacuated, have been allowed to return to their homes, or what's left of those homes.
  • Avista Hospital in Louisville is shut down, due to smoke. It was nearly destroyed,  as the fire came within feet of the hospital's oxygen tanks.

Mid-Morning Update December 31, 2021

    • Final numbers are still coming in regarding the catastrophic damage.
    • The number of homes destroyed could reach over 1,000.A blessing that there have been no fatalities.
    • Evacuations will continue today.
    • President Biden authorized expedited relief for those directly effected.
    • Louisville and Superior are under boil water order for now.
    • The cause of the fire remains under investigation, after no actual power lines were found knocked down, which was suspected as starting the fire.
    • The fire on December 30, 2021 spread as fast at the winds that were gusting up to 105 mph.
    • This was not so much a 'wildfire,' but an 'urban fire;' neighborhoods were destroyed.
    • Very unusual fire pattern, due to the winds. Some homes spared, while next door was destroyed.
    • The hospitals and schools were spared.
    • To help, visit ColoradoResponds.org
    • It will be a long road to recovery, with many struggling to understand the event.

Morning Update December 31, 2021

The Marshall Fire has grown with the overnight hours to 6,200 acres. And estimated 300 people stayed in shelters Thursday night into Friday. Sheltering of large animals at  Boulder County Fairgrounds became full; the Jefferson County Fairgrounds are now being used. The forecast is calling for only slight winds in the area for Friday, along with a 70% chance of precipitation, that is good news when it comes to putting down the fire. Footage of the damage Friday morning:

There will be a briefing on the fire at 10 a.m.

SEE PHOTOS AND FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN HELP HERE.

[Source: 9News] ##

Evening update December 30, 2021

Governor Polis has declared a state of emergency for the area of the Marshall Fire and Middlefork Fire in Boulder County, as an estimated 1,600 acres are on fire. This will allow the activation of the National Guard and other agencies to assist in the evacuations and fighting of the fires. Officials believe nearly 600 homes have been destroyed by the fire. It's heartbreaking, this 'force of nature' coming out of nowhere and reeking such havoc. Boulder Office of Emergency Management provide a map of the evacuation area:

Boulder OEM
Boulder OEM
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Boulder OEM has provide an information hotline  - 303-413-7730. The strong winds have made getting air tankers in the air impossible, but those winds are expected to keep dissipating into the night. They expect better fire-fighting weather on Friday, December 31, 2021.

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Afternoon Update December 30, 2021

Denver 7 reports that Louisville is now also being evacuated due to the strong winds an fires. This would make 34,000 Coloradans being evacuated. *** Wind gusts of 110 mph have been reported in Boulder County today (December 30, 2021), bringing extreme fire danger to the area. According to Denver 7, the Boulder County Office of Emergency Management issued the evacuation order for all of Superior, about 60 miles southwest of Fort Collins.



 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KRi9kjLlG4   Stay up to date on the Boulder fire situation with Denver 7 and with the Boulder Office of Emergency Management. Here's a look at the fire.

A Look at the Marshall Fire in Boulder County, Colorado

The Marshall Fire in Boulder County destroyed more than 1,000 homes.

The fire started just after 11 a.m. Dec. 30, consuming football lengths of land in seconds in suburban areas. Frontline emergency personnel said they had never seen anything like it, according to Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle. 

Here are some scenes from the Colorado fire.

2020 Cameron Peak Fire

 

Photo Gallery: 2012 High Park Fire

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