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As it happenedended

Colorado fire: Up to 1,000 homes burned to ground as inferno declared most destructive ever

Namita Singh,Oliver O'Connell
Saturday 01 January 2022 07:48 EST
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Homes engulfed in flames and winds blow wildfire across Colorado

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Up to 1,000 homes have been burned in what is being called the most destructive blaze in Colorado’s history.

Horrifying aerial footage shows the devastating impact of the fast-moving wildfire fanned by powerful winds that ripped through towns near Boulder,Colorado, on Thursday, prompting the evacuation of about 30,000 residents.

As the fires raged, startling video, filmed from a plane flying above the state, shows the towns of Superior and Louisville engulfed in flames at multiple locations.

Officials have declared the fire the most devastating ever to impact the state.

Governor Jared Polis declared a state of emergency, allowing the state to deploy emergency funds and resources including Colorado National Guard.

The wind gusts of 110 miles per hour had pushed fire at an astonishing speed, burning across 6,000 acres and destroying more than 500 homes — possibly as many as 1,000. Some owners watched on door-cams as fire approached their homes.

“This fire is, frankly, a force of nature,” said Mr Polis. “For those who have lost everything that they’ve had, know that we will be there for you to help rebuild your lives.”

The grass fire is believed to have been ignited by sparks from power lines and transformers toppled by high winds of Colorado’s drought-parched Front Range, according to Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle.

The Boulder Office of Emergency Management has urged residents not to return to their homes.

What caused the wildfire in Colorado?

Extreme dryness and lack of precipitation have been pegged as the reasons behind the spread of a devastating wildfire that tore through multiple towns in Boulder, Colorado, forcing thousands of people, including hospital patients, to evacuate on Thursday.

Small fires cropped up on the grass in a median or in a dumpster in the middle of a parking lot, which then spread at a rapid speed due to gusting winds. The wind, as powerful as 110mph, knocked over power lines, pushing the fire across neighbourhoods, burning down more than 1,600 acres.

More than 30,000 people in Superior and Louisville towns in Colorado were ordered to evacuate their homes. Some sections of the road on the US-36 highway were closed.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar has the details.

What caused the wildfire in Colorado?

Colorado Boulder Marshall wildfire - cause

Joe Middleton31 December 2021 11:45

Colorado set for snowfall after wildfires

Denver’s National Weather Service has said the area can expect snowfall on Friday and Saturday.

Joe Middleton31 December 2021 12:16

Evacuated residents watch via doorbell cameras as their homes burn

More than 30,000 residents have fled their homes in the vicinity of Boulder, Colorado, as 110mph winds sparked multiple wildfires.

Many of those evacuees have no idea whether or not they will have anything to return to after the fires pass.

Horrifying aerial footage shows fires glowing at night around the town of Superior and an unknown number of structures, including houses, have been destroyed.

Oliver O’Connell has the details.

Evacuated Colorado residents watch on doorbell cameras as their homes burn

When cameras go offline, residents no longer know if their home has been destroyed or not

Joe Middleton31 December 2021 12:32

Satellite and radar images show spread of the fires

Satellite and radar images released by Denver’s National Weather Service show the spread of the wildfires.

In a tweet posted on Thursday, the organisation said: “Here is a 4-panel of satellite and radar data of the fire. depicting the fire and the smoke plume that impacted Superior and Louisville this afternoon.”

Joe Middleton31 December 2021 12:55

US: Thousands Evacuate As Marshall Fire Spreads In Colorado
Joe Middleton31 December 2021 13:20

Homes engulfed in flames and winds blow wildfire across Colorado
Oliver O'Connell31 December 2021 14:04

Aerial view of fire captured from Seattle-bound flight

A passenger on a flight to Seattle captured an aerial image of the fires around Superior and Louisville at 5pm local time on 30 December.

Oliver O'Connell31 December 2021 14:13

House engulfed in less than 20 minutes

Oliver O'Connell31 December 2021 14:55

More than 500 homes confirmed destroyed so far

More than 500 homes destroyed more have already been confirmed as destroyed by the fire according to Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle.

He said an entire subdivision of 370 homes went up in flames west of Superior, and that 210 dwellings were lost in the Old Town area of Superior, along with additional residences in the area. Property losses also included a shopping center and a hotel.

Governor Jared Polis said flames were consuming football fields of landscape in a matter of seconds, calling the conflagration “a force of nature.”

Reuters

Oliver O'Connell31 December 2021 15:20

Fire disrupts utilities

Local utility provider Xcel Energy struggled to maintain service to its electric and natural gas customers in several mountain counties and in the San Luis Valley, with periodic outages hitting the area through Thursday night into Friday because of the fire.

“The Boulder County wildfires have impacted Xcel Energy’s natural gas infrastructure that supports the system in Summit County and Grand County,” the company said in a news release late on Thursday.

“To decrease the amount of natural gas being used by furnaces in the area and keep the system up and running, the company is putting in place periodic electric outages to customers in Summit, Grand, Lake, Eagle, Saguache, Rio Grande and Alamosa counties for the next six to eight hours.”

Oliver O'Connell31 December 2021 15:30

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