They may have been distracted at first by what they thought was a downed power line on Marshall Road. It is possible that the minute delay in finding the fire was due the reported location being incorrect. Or the fire was small and light fuel such as short grass was burning which did not produce a great deal of smoke and may have been kept low to the ground by the very strong wind. Later the blaze moved into heavier fuel, and in spite of the wind produced a convection column topped by condensation.
During the hour before it started, firefighters were sent to two other vegetation fires which were north of Boulder. Even with the very strong winds firefighters were able to stop both before they grew large. These incidents may have reduced the number of fire resources that were available when the Marshall fire took off, spreading very rapidly pushed by winds gusting at 60 to more than mph hour depending on the location.
Before the fires started a great deal of dust was being kicked up by the wind, then it became a mix of smoke and dust. Check out the dust blowing in this video with the fire in the background:. Last video. The wind was not predicted very far in advance for the Boulder area and there was no Red Flag Warning in effect. An existing wind warning was revised. And we were expecting wind gusts up around 90 miles an hour.
So we did not go with the red flag warning. He said there should be objective criteria for red flag warnings, but it should be revisited in an era of climate change.
Still, the warning that was issued discussed the danger of a possible fire spreading rapidly, given months of drought in the region combined with the winds.
It is easy to say after the event, but wildland firefighters know that the three major factors that affect the spread of a fire are weather, fuels, and topography. Wildfires generally do not suddenly become rapidly spreading unless very strong winds are present, and they can make up for less than extreme fuel and topography. The lengthy drought and much less than average precipitation on the Front Range of Colorado in October, November, and December helped set the stage. At p.
The extreme wind was able to overwhelm the factors of low but not extreme RH, a temperature generally not associated with fire storms, light to medium vegetation, and benign topography. The structures that burned added a great deal to the fuel load. As buildings were consumed, radiant and convective heat ignited houses that in some places were only 10 to 20 feet apart, while burning embers blown by the wind lit spot fires far ahead in the home ignition zones, on structures, leaf-filled gutters, and vents, as well as bone dry lawns and mulch beds which in some cases spread to and ignited the homes.
Unlike most states, in Colorado county sheriffs have statutory responsibility to coordinate wildland fire response within their county. Sheriff Joe Pelle said his investigation had not found a power line near the point of origin. At least one search warrant has been served on a compound in that area where investigators have been seen. The final determination of the cause is going to be huge. That, combined with snow covering the point of origin is part of the reason the investigators are taking their time, being careful and meticulous.
Aerial photos taken of Superior, Colorado before and after the devastating December 30 Marshall Fire show the physical impact on the structures. Most of the homes within the 6,acre perimeter were destroyed as the fire was pushed by winds gusting, depending on the location, at 60 to mph while the relative humidity was in the 20s.
At 12 p. Wednesday the evacuation order for Louisville was lifted. Investigators have been searching for the two persons still reported as missing at two locations. In the block of Marshall Road in unincorporated Boulder County they have located partial human remains of an adult. The weather has been a factor in the speed at which the investigations are able to be conducted. The Disaster Assistance Center is available for anyone impacted by the fire.
It is located at South Public Road, Lafayette, and is open from 9 a. Official sites are unable to accept any material donations — please do not bring these to shelters or other disaster support locations.
Victims most need money. While some families have gofundme accounts set up by friends, we cannot verify the authenticity of each of these, and we are concerned about fraud. The very best way to ensure victims receive funding, without tax implications, is to donate to www.
There will be many needs in the months ahead. Please do not self-dispatch to disaster areas. This state clearinghouse will strive to match volunteers with community and individual needs. Due to the recent fires, BCPH is working to determine the health risk current air quality poses. There are several air monitoring stations in Boulder and Longmont that measure regional air quality which currently report to be moderate to good.
A closer look at the destruction left in the wake of the devastating MarshallFire. Looking south. El Dorado Fire Progression map for September 5 to 17, Unseasonable wildfires fueled by high winds over dry ground resulted in two deaths in the Mountain West this week. It spread quickly across steep terrain, thanks to those same strong winds mixed with unusually dry conditions.
That night, a single-engine air tanker crashed near the fire, killing the pilot , who was identified Wednesday as Marc Thor Olson. That fire was also caused when trees got blown into a power line and is now percent contained. Jerry Parker is the Park County's fire warden. He said the lack of moisture this year makes fires this late in November not at all unusual.
But here recently, in the last few years, fire season seems to be going year-round. Scientists say warmer fall temperatures and less precipitation are allowing wildfires to burn deeper into fall.
According to the U. If people could learn to change their behavior, they could prevent some of the most dangerous wildfires from threatening Colorado communities. To protect homes against wildfires, experts recommend residents focus on two main ideas: structural integrity and defensible space.
Structural integrity is all about making sure a home is built to resist wildfire. Some steps are as simple as clearing leaves and debris from roofs or decks. Residents could also take more aggressive steps, like installing metal roofs or an exterior sprinkler system to beat back the flames.
Defensible space involves the landscape surrounding the building. The National Fire Protection Association has found the changes dramatically increase the chances a home survives a wildfire. Many nonprofits and government programs have more detailed guides to protecting homes.
Unlike California, Colorado has no statewide building code for fire-prone areas. In , a statewide task force recommended the state either mandate a new building code or model an ordinance for local governments. Homebuilders pushed back against the idea, insisting local governments should develop their own codes and teach people about reducing wildfire risk on their own. Some local jurisdictions require homeowners to protect against wildfires. Since , Boulder County has required anyone living in mountain areas to take protective action.
Other communities offer financial incentives to help homeowners. You want to know what is really going on these days, especially in Colorado. We can help you keep up. The Lookout is a free, daily email newsletter with news and happenings from all over Colorado. Sign up here and we will see you in the morning!
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