A 12-acre fire near Conifer on Tuesday afternoon was started by a tree falling into a power line, while a 2-acre fire 7 miles west of Evergreen was caused by ash from a smoldering slash pile, officials said Thursday.
High winds fanned the flames of the two fires, which broke out in rugged terrain within 10 minutes of each other.
The 12-acre fire near U.S. 285 and Foxton Road started about 11:30 a.m. and prompted an emergency phone notification to 340 homes to evacuate to Conifer High School.
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Jacki Kelley said by the time fire crews brought the Conifer blaze under control about 3:30 p.m., the winds had begun to calm.
Evacuated residents were allowed to return to their homes about 6 p.m. Tuesday. The fire was declared completely contained at 8:52 a.m. Wednesday.
Evergreen Fire Chief Garry DeJong said the other fire, outside of Evergreen, started about 11:20 a.m. Tuesday in a smoldering slash pile at 180 Nuthatch Road. Howard Pankratz, The Denver Post
This article has been corrected in this online archive. Originally, due to incorrect information provided by a source, the wrong address was given for the source of the slash pile fire near Evergreen.
