Evacuation warning issued for area near wildfire in southwest Boulder

Authorities have issued an evacuation warning for homes near a wildfire that broke out in southwest Boulder on Saturday afternoon.

At 12:45 p.m., Boulder Fire Rescue said a wildfire sparked in the southwest part of Boulder's Chautauqua neighborhood.

Around 1:30, emergency officials issued an evacuation warning to the residents in the area of Chatauqua Cottages, which contains around 300 homes. They urged residents in the area to be prepared in case they needed to evacuate suddenly. The department said hundreds of people were on the trails around the area, but all were safely evacuated. Ultimately, evacuations were not needed for the homes nearby.

The Bluebell Firehas been mapped and is approximately 1.5 acres in size, the fire department said in an update around 2:53 p.m. They reported that more than 100 firefighters are working to bring it under control. Nine agencies are assisting Boulder firefighters.

Officials have ordered the DFPC Multi-Mission Aircraft (MMA) and Type 1 helicopter to assist in firefighting efforts. Boulder Fire Rescue said the fire has a moderate rate of spread and the fire is approximately 50% contained.

Boulder Fire Rescue Chief Michael Calderazzo said the fire started in an open space area, and the cause is under investigation by the Boulder County Sheriff's Office.

He warned that humidity remains in the single digits, and high winds can create dangerous conditions. He urged those recreating in the area to be careful not to spark any fires. Calderazzo said that trails in Chautauqua, Green Mountain, and Enchanted Mesa will be closed for the forseeable future.

Red Flag warnings remain in place for much of the Front Range as windy and dry conditions persist.