Olde Stage Fire
The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office and local fire departments combated two large wildfires in Boulder County.
The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was activated at approximately 1:40pm Wednesday, January 7 and remained open until
6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8, when emergency support services were no longer required to assist in the firefighting operations.
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 (80mph+) pushed the fire east, and other structures were threatened.
The second fire originated in the 7200 block of Olde Stage, but was pushed in all directions with the gusting winds.
Over the course of both fires, more than 22,760 reverse 911 calls were made to residences and businesses within a 2-mile
radius of either the Neva Rd. fire or the Olde Stage fire. The calls alerted people of the fire danger and encouraged them
to seek shelter for themselves along with their pets and livestock.
Sheriff’s deputies and Boulder Police officers conducted door-to-door notifications and evacuations of homes in areas
most threatened by either fire. Evacuees were directed to Niwot High School and to Centennial Middle School in Boulder.
The Red Cross and Salvation Army provided food, shelter and counseling to evacuees. Sheriff’s deputies, public information
officers and other law enforcement personnel provided information to people seeking shelter at both locations. Most people
chose to find overnight lodging with family or friends, as very few people (14) spent the night at either shelter.
Large animal evacuations were directed to The Boulder County Fairgrounds and Sombrero Ranch while cats and dogs were
taken to the Boulder Valley Humane Society and the Longmont Humane Society for shelter.
The North Foothills Highway (US Hwy 36) was closed between Broadway (the north Boulder City limits) and Nelson
Road. The traffic restrictions were later pulled back to Lefthand Canyon Rd., but remained closed from Broadway
to Lefthand Canyon until 10.00 a.m. Jan. 8 when US 36 was reopened to traffic.
Air support in the form of a helicopter was secured, but the helicopter was never able to provide drops
due to the sustained high winds.
As of 8:00 p.m. Thursday (01/09/09) evening, the fire was deemed 100% contained, but was not yet “controlled”,
and would not be declared “controlled” until several remaining stump fires and hot spots could be extinguished.
The estimated area actually burned within the 6400-acre perimeter was expanded from the 1400-acre estimate provided
Thursday morning to 3008 acres (or roughly 4.7 square miles).
Statistics
- Over 200 firefighters, and 50 pieces of equipment were used
- 22,760 homes were advised of the situation by reverse 9-1-1 calls
- Most of these homes were under mandatory evacuations
- 300 - plus large animals evacuated
- 7 dogs, 13 cats and a potbellied pig where taken to the Humane Society’s
- 1 house and 3 large outbuilding lost
- 3 Minor injuries
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