Wildfires can occur at any time of the year, but are most likely to occur during the spring, summer or fall.
Thunderstorms that contain lighting usually start wildfires, or they can also be caused by humans.
Historical Score: 4
Boulder County has a history of forest fires dating back to June 29, 1916 when 1,000 acres burned around Bear
Mountain.
On July 5, 1924, 1,600 acres burned near Nederland. Fire caused by lightning burned more than 1,000 acres in the
Northwestern part of Boulder County in Rocky Mountain National Park on August 9, 1978. On October 6, 1980 a fire
caused by an arsonist burned 150 acres in the Pine Brook Hills Subdivision and a $150,000 home was destroyed.
Four major wildfires occurred in 3 consecutive years. They were the Lefthand Canyon and the Beaver
Lake Fire (1988), the Black Tiger Fire (1989) and the Olde Stage Road Fire (1990).
Lefthand Canyon and Beaver Lake Fire - September 1988:
The Lefthand Canyon Fire and Beaver Lake Fire occurred in September of 1988 in the canyon above Buckingham Park and
close to Beaver Lake near Ward. Approximately 1,500 acres were burned in Lefthand and 700 acres at Beaver Lake for
a total of 2,300 acres. Houses in the area were threatened, but no structures were lost. The fires were believed to
be man-caused.
Black Tiger Fire - July 9, 1989:
The Black Tiger Fire destroyed 44 homes on Sugar Loaf Mountain and burned over 2,100 acres. The Boulder County area
was experiencing very hot temperatures, low humidity and gusty winds. Conditions were just right for a wildfire.
The fire was man-caused.
Olde Stage Road Fire - November 24, 1990:
The fourth major wildfire was the Olde Stage Road Fire. The fire started when a man with a history of mental
problems threw a burning mattress out his front door. Winds gusting to 80 mph fanned the fire out of control. Ten
homes, five out-buildings and approximately 3,000 acres burned.
Walker Ranch/Eldorado Fire - September 15, 2000:
The first major fire since the Olde Stage Fire in 1990 occurred on Walker Ranch following a summer with little rain
and extreme temperatures. The fire burned approximately 1,100 acres and was probably human caused. Even though
there were over 250 homes in the area, no structures were lost. Firefighting costs were estimated at $1.5 million.
A FEMA fire suppression declaration was made to help cover firefighting costs.
Other Fires over 50 acres:
- 11/1/1964: Near Eldorado Springs (100 acres)
- 5/28/1974: Near Gold Hill (160 acres)
- 6/1976: Comforter Mountain (256 acres)
- 8/1979: Coal Creek Canyon (50 acres)
- 9/21/1984: USFS Land near Lyons (60 acres)
- 8/1/1987: Between Boulder and Lyons (50 acres)
- 11/4/1987: Southwest of Highway 36 (100 acres)
- 2/21/1988: Sunshine Canyon (200 acres)
- 9/7/1988: North of Ward (160 acres)
- 7/15/1991: West of Boulder Hills Subdivision Six miles North of Boulder (135 acres)
- 7/14/1994: Near Ward (50 acres)
- 9/3/1996: Rabbit Mountain-Lyons (50 acres)
The summer of 1994 was one of the driest on record, causing the wildfire threat to be high. Boulder County's
fires were contained before they got too large partly because of a single engine air tanker stationed at the
Boulder Airport. Fire bans were put into effect and an Inter-Agency Task Group was formed when the threat of
wildfires increased in the county.
The summer of 2000 was very dry and hot in the western part of the United States. Many small fires occurred in
Boulder County during the summer months. Even though many of them were relatively small, they were hard to reach
areas. Air support was available because of fires in surrounding areas so responders were able to get them under
control quickly.
Potential Score: 5
The potential for wildfires has increased over the past few years due to development in the mountainous areas of
Boulder County.
(From the Office of Emergency Management)
