Conifer – Gusting winds quickly fanned a grass fire into a 7-acre blaze early Thursday, rousing residents from their beds in about 100 homes on Pinto Drive near Richmond Hill Road.
No structures were burned, although four homes were threatened. Flames came within 10 feet of one residence, said Elk Creek Fire Capt. Ron McInnes.
Responding to the 1:30 a.m. alarm were the Elk Creek, Inter- Canyon and Platte Canyon fire departments. About 55 firefighters contained the fire by 6 a.m., with mop-up efforts continuing into Thursday afternoon.
The blaze, southwest of Denver, was blamed on a sparking power line blown down by the wind. McInnes said phone lines also were downed, which resulted in firefighters and Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies knocking on doors of residents in the immediate area. Some families evacuated to Conifer High School.
McInnes cautioned that recent weather has been warm, dry and windy and that wildfire season stretches to the end of November.
