Elk Mountain Fire Burns and Estimated 600 Acres
Tuesday, February 21st, 2006
Boulder County Sheriff’s investigators have identified the source of the fire that consumed an estimated 600 acres of
brush and grassland north of Boulder last Tuesday afternoon. The fire originated in a pile of fireplace ashes that had
been dumped outside of a mobile home located at 10190 North Foothills Highway. The gusting winds that prevailed that day
then evidently spread the hot ash, igniting nearby grasses that were tinder-dry after a prolonged period of dry, hot
weather. Winds pushed the fire into a blaze that expanded rapidly, threatening at least three homes. Fortunately,
through the prompt action of firefighters, no structures were lost and damage was largely limited to fences, an apple
orchard, and two old farm trucks. An accurate figure as to the dollar-loss is not yet available.
Sheriff’s detectives are investigating the fire as an Arson (Fourth Degree Arson, CRS 18-4-105, a Class 2 misdemeanor)
as it appears to have been recklessly caused by human activity. Investigators have spoken with the residents of the
mobile home who claim to have been out of town at the time and to have no knowledge as to who might have dumped ashes
into the ash pit. The investigation is on-going and investigators can make no further comment at this point regarding
the investigation.
Tuesday, February 14th, 2006
Strong, gusting winds pushed a small grass fire into a fast-running brush fire that consumed an estimated 600 acres
north of Boulder early Tuesday afternoon.
The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office was notified of the fire at 11:46 a.m. At that time, it was confined to the
shoulder of the North Foothills Highway, near a home located at 10190 North Foothills Highway. However, with tinder dry
fuels and wind gusts of 25-30 miles per hour, the fire quickly grew to encompass several hundred acres, burning north
and east toward St. Vrain Road and North 49th Street.
Dubbed the Elk Mountain Fire, the fire drew firefighters and apparatus from nearly a dozen local fire protection
districts (including the Hygiene Fire Protection District, Lyons F.P.D., Lefthand F.P.D., Berthoud F.P.D., Mountain
View F.P.D., Four Mile F.P.D., Boulder Rural F.P.D., Indian Peaks F.P.D., Boulder Heights F.P.D., and Boulder Mountain
F.P.D). and Boulder municipal and Longmont municipal fire departments. Personnel from the Boulder Emergency Squad and
Longmont Emergency Unit provided assistance with staffing road closures, as did troopers of the Colorado State Patrol.
The Red Cross provided food and water for the firefighters and the Pridemark Paramedic Service assigned an ambulance to
the event, which, fortunately, was not needed as there were no injuries sustained.
Firefighters set several strategic “back fires” in the path of the blaze, robbing it of needed fuels and stemming its
advance. County road crews with water trucks helped maintain a firebreak by soaking down North 49th Street. The fire
threatened to jump the road, but fortunately was prevented from doing so by the quick action of the emergency crews.
Several homes were also threatened by the advancing flames, but again, firefighters were on the spot to quell the
blaze before any structures were lost. Damage was largely confined to burned fences, trees, brush and grass.
A number of area residents voluntarily evacuated their homes. The Boulder County Fairgrounds were made available for
the emergency stabling of livestock.
Firefighting operations necessitated the temporary closure of the North Foothills Highway (US Highway 36) between
Nelson and St. Vrain Roads, and the closure of 49th Street between Nelson and St. Vrain Roads.
Fortunately, the wind began to die down as the afternoon progressed, and the fire was considered 90% contained by
3:30 p.m. Fire Command began de-mobilizing and by 4:00 p.m. all road closures were re-opened to traffic. Several fire
crews will remain on-scene overnight to mop up hot spots and any flare-ups.
Sheriff’s investigators are interviewing witnesses and assessing the scene in order to determine the point of origin
and cause of the fire. The Sheriff’s Office will put out a supplemental press release when new information becomes
available.
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