This is a developing story and will be updated. It was last updated at 9:45 a.m. on April 6. As of about 11 p.m. the night before, the fire was about half an acre, 50% contained and no longer advancing. By 9:45 a.m., officials said it was “not entirely” contained.
Emergency crews responded to a vegetation fire south of Chautauqua on Sunday night.
Crews began responding to the fire around 9:20 p.m., according to scanner traffic. Around 10 p.m., it was estimated at about half an acre to an acre. Firefighters began putting water on the fire around 10:10 p.m., after earlier reporting that it was largely burning out. By about 10:25 p.m., crews said the fire was no longer expanding.
As of about 11:10 p.m., Boulder Fire-Rescue said the fire was about half an acre in size, roughly 50% contained and no longer advancing. Crews expected to remain on scene for several hours.
Conditions at the scene included little to no wind and relatively flat terrain, which helped limit the fire’s spread.
The fire is located about 100 feet west of a watershed area near the top of Mesa Canyon Drive, with access via a nearby driveway. Crews said Enchanted Mesa Trail could be used to reach the flames.
Crews were initially directed to stage on the back side of the National Institute of Standards and Technology campus around 9:20 p.m., according to scanner traffic. About five crews, or roughly 15 personnel, were dispatched.
Boulder police were requested to assist in case evacuations became necessary, and a drone was deployed to help assess the fire.
The cause of the fire is not yet known.
The fire is the second wildfire near Chautauqua this year, following the Bluebell Fire in February, which burned about 1.5 acres, prompted evacuations of nearby trails and drew more than 100 firefighters.
The latest fire comes as Boulder County begins spring with unusually dry conditions already in place. Fire officials say fuels are fully cured, snowpack is far below normal and red flag days have arrived earlier than usual, raising concerns about an early and potentially severe fire season if ignitions occur.