As the Boulder Canyon fires blaze on, the City of Boulder is beginning mandatory evacuations of neighborhoods in West Boulder.
A plane drops slurry on the wildfire near Boulder Canyon. Mandatory evacuations of several West Boulder neighborhoods are under way. (CU Independent/Matthew McAllister)
“As a precaution and to aid responders dealing with the Dome Fire, we are ordering a mandatory evacuation in some neighborhoods within the city,” said City Manager Jane S. Brautigam, 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.”
The neighborhoods in Boulder that are being evacuated include: west of 7th Street from Canyon Boulevard on the south to High Street on the north. An evacuation center has been established at the Coors Events Center.
In addition the Boulder Community Hospital, Mapleton and Maxwell facilities are being evacuated.
View Boulder Canyon Fire 10/29/10 in a larger map
Firefighters are initiating a back-burn operation that will 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 Friday 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.
There is one plane making slurry drops to combat the fire at this time, as well as two dozen firefighters on scene. The fires are still estimated at being around 10 acres in size.
View our photo gallery of the fire.
Contact CU Independent Breaking News Editor Ellie Bean at Beanee@colorado.edu.
