The fire was reported at 2:30 a.m. after man says he saw flames near Sunshine Canyon and Timber Lane
More than 1,000 homes have been told to evacuate in the Sunshine Canyon area west of Boulder due to a wildfire that was first reported around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, according to the Boulder Office of Emergency Management.
The fire is estimated to be as large as 50 acres in size, with zero percent containment. It is moving in a southerly direction toward downtown Boulder, and firefighters are concentrating their efforts on the fire’s southern flank. “That is a major concern,” said Gabi Boerkircher, a spokeswoman with the Boulder Office of Emergency Management.
Eight aircraft are in the air, dropping both water and slurry. About 3,700 homes are on pre-evacuation notice, and have been told to be prepared to leave.
There are no reports of homes being damaged or lost, sheriff’s officials said.
Conditions are “rough” for firefighters, Boerkircher said.“We were already going to be under a red flag warning today anyway,” she told The Daily Camera. “It looks like it’s going to be very hot and very dry, and potential winds up to 20 mph. Which is not good.”
The OEM’s website is experiencing high traffic, and intermittently dropping off line. Residents can also get information on twitter at @BoulderOEM, and Facebook.
Conditions are ripe for fire throughout the Front Range, said Bernie Meier, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Boulder.
Winds were light, at about 5 miles-per-hour at about 8:30 a.m., but are expected to pick up later in the morning or early afternoon.
Humidty is low, at about 18 percent, and expected to fall to 10 percent Sunday.
A high temperature of 79 degrees is expected in Boulder today.
The fire was first reported on the mountain side near Sunshine Canyon and Timber Lane when someone noticed “glowing on the mountain, and we sent deputies,” Boerkircher said.
Boulder County Public Health advises people to avoid outdoor activities if they can see or smell smoke.
The fire is estimated to be as large as 50 acres in size, with zero percent containment. It is moving in a southerly direction toward downtown Boulder, and firefighters are concentrating their efforts on the fire’s southern flank. “That is a major concern,” said Gabi Boerkircher, a spokeswoman with the Boulder Office of Emergency Management.
Eight aircraft are in the air, dropping both water and slurry. About 3,700 homes are on pre-evacuation notice, and have been told to be prepared to leave.
There are no reports of homes being damaged or lost, sheriff’s officials said.
Conditions are “rough” for firefighters, Boerkircher said.“We were already going to be under a red flag warning today anyway,” she told The Daily Camera. “It looks like it’s going to be very hot and very dry, and potential winds up to 20 mph. Which is not good.”
The OEM’s website is experiencing high traffic, and intermittently dropping off line. Residents can also get information on twitter at @BoulderOEM, and Facebook.
Conditions are ripe for fire throughout the Front Range, said Bernie Meier, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Boulder.
Winds were light, at about 5 miles-per-hour at about 8:30 a.m., but are expected to pick up later in the morning or early afternoon.
Humidty is low, at about 18 percent, and expected to fall to 10 percent Sunday.
A high temperature of 79 degrees is expected in Boulder today.
The fire was first reported on the mountain side near Sunshine Canyon and Timber Lane when someone noticed “glowing on the mountain, and we sent deputies,” Boerkircher said.
Boulder County Public Health advises people to avoid outdoor activities if they can see or smell smoke.
