A grass fire in the Denver metropolitan area prompted evacuations in several neighborhoods of Thornton on Wednesday. Authorities closed both directions of Interstate 25 between U.S. 36 and 104th Avenue, citing safety concerns, as the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) reported thick, black smoke.
Thornton police officers conducted door-to-door evacuations in areas northeast of the fire, advising residents to gather at Water World and refrain from returning home until further notice. Additionally, Pinnacle High School and local businesses located at 84th Avenue and Huron were also evacuated due to the fire’s proximity. Motorists were urged to steer clear of the area to facilitate the response of emergency services.
The black smoke was prominently displayed on CDOT cameras, illustrating the scale of the grass fire as it spread across I-25 at 84th Avenue and over the northern sections of the Denver metro.
Meteorologists at CBS Colorado issued a First Alert Weather Day for Wednesday, citing severe conditions including high winds, unusually warm and dry weather, and elevated fire risks. A red flag warning remains in effect for regions below 6,000 feet, encompassing the Front Range foothills to the Eastern Plains. This warning is applicable from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, with forecasts predicting wind gusts of up to 55 mph, temperatures ranging from the 60s to low 70s, and humidity levels sinking as low as 10%.
This unfortunate incident serves as a reminder of the potential dangers associated with wildfire conditions, especially during periods of extreme weather. Community resilience and cooperation will be essential as local authorities manage the situation and work to ensure everyone’s safety.