Boulder Canyon fires, 10 acres in size, moving north

The Boulder Fire Department is responding to two wildfires in Boulder Canyon.

The fire in Boulder Canyon this morning as seen from the intersection of 28th and Arapahoe. The fire does not threaten campus. (CU Independent/Rose Heaphy)

According to the Emergency Operations Center website, there are two fires located about one-fourth mile away from Boulder Canyon. The fires are in the city of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks land near Elephant Buttress and Dome Rock.

The Grounds Analysis crews are estimating the Dome Fire to be 134 acres in size. There are currently 100 firefighters reporting from 20 different agencies on the scene and more are expected to join by nightfall. 

Since the fire is not endangering any buildings or homes, officials are not asking for any community donations at this time.

As of 1:10 p.m., Highway 119 had been reopened.

The Boulder Valley School District schools reported that they will end at the regular school time, however several after school activities  have been cancelled. Schedule changes are listed on the Boulder Office of Emergency Management website.

The city of Boulder announced closures for several facilities and programs due to the fire and expected power outages. The Boulder Public Library Main Branch will close at 1:30 p.m. and all youth and adult classes at the North Boulder Recreation Center have been cancelled. The center however will remain open for walk-in fitness. The Municipal Court in the Boulder County Justice Center has closed and all downtown city offices closed at 12:30 p.m.

Other closures include the following: West Senior Center at 909 Arapahoe Ave., Children, Youth, and Families at 2610 Spruce St., Carnegia Branch Library at 1125 Pine St., Iris Center and studio at 3198 Broadway St., and Salberg Center at 19^th St. and Elder Ave.

The City of Boulder also announced that residents and businesses within the city of Boulder will be mandatorily evacuated. Evacuation areas include: west of 7^th Street from Canyon Boulevard on the south to North Street on the north.
View Boulder Canyon Fire 10/29/10 in a larger map

Earlier today, the city of Boulder evacuated the Canon Park Subdivision at the base of Boulder Canyon and the area at the mouth of Sunshine Canyon up to Poorman Road, including the Seven Hills subdivision, and Knollwood subdivision.

There are an estimated 1,700 people who will be affected by these evacuations. In addition Boulder Community Hospital Mapleton and Maxwell facilities are being evacuated. Evacuated residents are asked to go to the Coors Events Center.

City Manager Jane S. Brautigam said the evacuations are precautionary at this time and intended to help firefighters.

“As a precaution and to aid responders dealing with the Dome Fire, we are ordering a mandatory evacuation in some neighborhoods within the city,” Brautigam said, in a news release. “We are asking that residents follow the directions of emergency crews now so that emergency equipment can be positioned and crews can focus on extinguishing the wildfire. Resident and business cooperation is greatly appreciated as we work to contain this fire.”

Firefighters are initiating a back-burn operation that wil result in significant power outages. The outages will occur from 28th Street to Nederland, from Baseline Road and Iris Avenue in the city and Allenspark to Coal Creek in the mountains. This situation is expected to last for the next four hours.

CU sent out an emergency alert this morning letting students know of the fire. According to the alert, the fire is approximately 2 miles west of Boulder and does not pose a threat to the campus at this time. University administrators are closely monitoring the situation and its impact on the campus community.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Rose Heaphy at Josephine.heaphy@colorado.edu.