Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Wildfires burning in Boulder County
**Please do not call 911 or Sheriff’s Communications unless there is an emergency.**
Public information phone lines:
720-564-2932
720-564-2942
720-564-2952
MEDIA STAGING AREA:
Updated 3:30 p.m. - 63rd. and Niwot Rd.
Press Conference will be held at 4 p.m., a pool camera will be set-up to allow video coverage of the fire.
FIRE (3) LOCATIONS:
7200 block of Olde Stage Road - As of 4:00 p.m.
· Size : 100+ acres
· Direction: Winds are pushing fire NW, but the fire has jumped U.S. 36 to the East
· Effective 4 p.m. - the fire Has jumped US 36 and entered Lake Valley Estates. No information yet on structures.
THE FOLLOWING FIRE HAS BEEN CONTAINED:
U.S. 36 (Foothills Hwy) and Hygiene - as of 4:00 p.m.
Size : Unknown
Direction: Wind blowing the fire North and East
Cause: Power Line
THE FOLLOWING FIRE HAS BEEN CONTAINED:
45th Street/Neva Road, west of Niwot - as of 3:30 p.m.
Size: Approx. 30 acres
The fire is believed to have originated with a downed power line nearby
Structure damage: there is one structure that is a total loss
Statistics as of 3:30 p.m. :
75 firefighters, 30 pieces of equipment in use
10,841 homes have been advised of the situation, evacuation centers are established (see below)
*NEW*
CLOSURES:
-North Foothills Highway (US Hwy 36) has been closed between Broadway (the north Boulder City limits) and Nelson Road
-All roads West of North Foothills Highway (US Hwy 36) for at least 3 miles including:
Lefthand Canyon Rd.
Old Stage Rd.
Lee Hill Rd. closed
-Access is also affected E. of North Foothills Highway (US Hwy 36) to N. 63rd. St.
-Boulder Reservoir is closed.
EVACUATIONS:
- Sheriff’s deputies are conducting evacuations of homes located within a one-mile radius of each of the fires.
- Evacuees are being directed to Niwot High School. Centennial Middle School has also been opened as an evacuation center.
- Animal evacuations: The Boulder County Fairgrounds and Sombrero Ranch are available for evacuations. Call the public information lines provided for more information.
INJURIES:
- No injuries have been reported as of this time.
ORIGINAL NEWS RELEASES:
All Boulder Reservoir temporarily closed due to wildfire
The Boulder Reservoir, 5565 N. 51st St., has closed due to a wild land fire that is currently burning in the area. The facility has been evacuated as a safety precaution.
The facility will re-open for regular winter hours once the fire has been contained (but will remain closed for the remainder of today at minimum).
For more information and updates about Boulder Reservoir, call Paul Bousquet at 303-413-7239 or visit www.BoulderRez.org.
Original release (2:49 p.m.)
The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office and local fire departments are combating two large wildfires in Boulder County.
The North Foothills Highway, US Hwy 36, has been closed between Broadway (the north Boulder City limits) and Hygiene Road, two miles south of Lyons
The first fire, believed to have originated with a downed power line near 45th Street/Neva Road, west of Niwot, involved a house and a barn. The gusty winds are pushing the fire east, and other structures are threatened. Sheriff’s deputies are conducting evacuations of homes located within a one-mile radius of the seat of the fire. Evacuees are being directed to Niwot High School. No injuries have been reported as of this time.
The second fire, originating in the 7200 block of Olde Stage Road had burned an estimated two acres as of 1:40 p.m., but was being pushed east with the gusting winds. Deputies have initiated evacuations of nearby residences and fire crews are on the scene.
All evacuees are being directed to Niwot High School.
-END-
Dan Rowland, Communications SpecialistBoulder County Commissioners’ Office
drowland@bouldercounty.org
303-441-3399
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