Shifting winds push Boulder fire closer to more homes

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BOULDER COUNTY - Crews battling the three fires that have burned more than 1,000 acres and have destroyed two homes, say shifting winds have pushed flames closer to Crestview Estates.

The neighborhood is in the northwest corner of the fire perimeter, near the intersection of Lefthand Canyon Drive and US Highway 36.  

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The highway remained closed Thursday morning between Broadway Road and Hygiene Road and crews were performing backburning in the area in hopes of slowing the fires advance.

Firefighters also worked overnight to refuel firetrucks that are working on the fire, using a 100-gallon fuel truck.

Two firefighters were reportedly hurt. We're told that one firefighter injured a knee and the other had ash in the eye.

Three hundred emergency services personnel have responded to the scene; 150 firefighters are actively fighting the fire.

According to Boulder County a total of six significant structures were affected: three residences (two total losses, one partial) and three outbuildings/barns (total losses).

Authorities said more than 11,000 homes had been alerted to the fire by emergency calls, but not all of those households were told to leave.

Evacuated areas include areas east of the 5400 block of Olde Stage Road, Lake Valley Estates, Crestview Estates, the Dakota Ridge subdivision in North Boulder, residences along Olde Stage Road and Highway 36 between Lee Hill Road and Lefthand Canyon Drive and Jordan Ranch.

Pine Brook Hills, Carriage Hills and Boulder Heights were not evacuated.

The Boulder County Sheriff's Office says evacuees will not be allowed to return to their homes until responders determine those areas are not at risk from the fire.

According to Boulder County, an elderly woman refused to evacuate, even after firefighters warned her of the potential danger in the area.  Fire crews worry that they may not be able to reach her, if fire actvity increases.

Niwot High School, which had been open as a shelter, was slated to close by the end of the night. Evacuees needing a place to stay can go to Centennial Middle School, located at 2205 Norwood Ave. in Boulder.

The Boulder YMCA will be staying open all night for members and those who have had to evacuate because of the fire. For more information, call Kathy at 720-890-8499.

According to the Boulder County Sherriff's Office, the fire currently is bordered by Lee Hill and Broadway to the south, Olde Stage Road to the west, Lefthand Canyon Road to the north and Lake Valley Estates to the southeast. Firefighters are focusing their attention on the Lake Valley Estates neighborhood and the Dakota Ridge subdivision in North Boulder.

Because of the fire, Highway 36 is closed between Broadway and Hygiene Road. All roads west of Highway 36 are closed for at least 3 miles. Those roads include Lefthand Canyon Road. Olde Stage Road and Lee Hill Road are closed. Boulder Reservoir is also closed.

West said the fire apparently started when winds knocked down a power line.

Winds at the scene ranged from 35 to 55 mph, said Kyle Fredin, a National Weather Service spokesman. He said the winds had begun to back off but were still strong enough to make firefighting difficult.

"This is what scares everybody to death, these high winds," said John Stobbelaar, a retired captain with the Mountain View Fire District who went to one of the fires after he was called up on standby.

Flames licked the shoulders of one road as cars and pickups rolled by, some towing livestock trailers.

"It's really terrifying," said Pamela Taylor of nearby Louisville, who was trying to find out whether her horse Zorro had been moved from a boarding stable that stood in an evacuation area. "You just want to set eyes on him."

Gusty winds are expected to continue Thursday morning.  9NEWS Meteorologist Becky Ditchfield says firefighters could see gusts up to 30 mph.  Winds should decrease during the day Thursday, but are expected to increase again on Friday morning.

An emergency animal shelter at the Boulder County Fairgrounds in nearby Longmont was full, and an overflow shelter was set up at Sombrero Ranch.

Colorado Horse Rescue rescued 15 horses from the fire.
Both the Longmont Humane Society and the Boulder Valley Humane Society took in cats and dogs from evacuated families.
Residents can get more information by calling 720-564-2932, 720-564-2942 and 720-564-2952.

You can also get updates by going to: http://www.bouldercounty.org/.

We're told volunteers are not needed at this time, but those wishing to find out about future volunteers should leave a message with the Volunteer Connection. Call 303-444-4904.

9NEWS and 9NEWS.com will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.