Update: The fire was declared 100% contained at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Dec. 22. Crews continued mopping up and securing the fire.
An official evacuation map showing the all clear for Fourmile Canyon is available on the Boulder County Office of Disaster Management website.
An evacuation order remains in place for parts of Fourmile Canyon, but Boulder County emergency officials have lifted an evacuation warning, reporting “good news” as firefighters make progress on a wildfire burning west of Boulder, according to the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office.
An evacuation order was issued at 5:51 p.m. for the 700 block of Wild Turkey Trail in Fourmile Canyon. Residents in that area were told to evacuate immediately. Officials were directing evacuees to use Evening Star Road and avoid Wild Turkey Trail.
Shortly after, at 6:04 p.m., the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office issued an evacuation warning for a larger portion of Fourmile Canyon. An evacuation warning means residents should be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice and should evacuate immediately if they need extra time or assistance.
The evacuation warning was lifted at approximately 9:27 p.m., according to Boulder County emergency officials, after fire behavior stabilized and the blaze was no longer spreading.
The fire is estimated at about three acres, up from roughly two acres at 6:30 p.m. The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office described the update as “good news,” saying the fire is holding at three acres, a line has been established around the fire, and the forward rate of spread has been stopped. Crews have moved into mop-up operations, targeting remaining hot spots and strengthening containment. Firefighters are still experiencing 40-50 mph winds, which remain a concern, though winds are beginning to die down.
Officials said they will not lift the evacuation order until it is safe for residents to return to their homes, potentially by midnight or earlier if conditions continue to improve.
Evacuees may park on the east side of the Boulder County Criminal Justice Center at 6th Street and Canyon Boulevard, according to the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office.
First responders are actively responding, and officials are urging the public not to travel up Fourmile Canyon, a narrow roadway that must remain clear for emergency vehicles.
Officials are urging residents to monitor boco911alert.org for updated maps and information and to avoid calling 911 unless they are in immediate danger.
Maps released by emergency officials show the evacuation order covering a smaller, high-risk area near Wild Turkey Trail, with the earlier evacuation warning extending across a wider stretch of Fourmile Canyon, including areas near Salina and surrounding mountain communities.
Residents who want to check whether their home is affected should visit the Boulder Office of Disaster Management website for the most up-to-date evacuation maps and information.
Odd that an evacuation “warning” is lifted at the same type that an evacuation “order” remains in place.
You should explain how that can happen.
That’s because, as the story explains, the fire is no longer spreading. The warning was in place in case conditions worsened. While the fire is now largely contained and holding at about three acres, crews are still mopping up hot spots. Officials do not want residents returning to their homes until it is fully safe to do so.