EVERGREEN, Colo.—A fire that prompted evacuations in the foothills near Evergreen was sparked when a 48-foot tree fell onto power lines and burned, officials said Tuesday.
Firefighters took advantage of cooler temperatures and higher humidity on Tuesday to fully contain the wildfire estimated at 10 acres about 30 miles west of Denver.
Sheriff’s officials allowed remaining evacuees back home at 8 p.m., and power had been restored to about 360 homes.
The fire began on Monday, prompting evacuations after wind carried sparks a half-mile. Some evacuees were allowed back home Monday night. No structures have been lost.
Temperatures in the 60s helped firefighters digging a 200-foot-wide containment line around the fire. But officials were watching incoming weather that could bring winds and lightning late Tuesday into Wednesday.
Even with full containment, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office advised residents that they might see dense smoke for days because of heavy fuels that fed the fire.
The fire has cost an estimated $80,000 to fight.
The National Weather Service issued a warning Tuesday of high fire danger for southwestern Colorado, where about 70 firefighters battled a separate 75-acre fire near Creede that was 50 percent contained. Its cause also was under investigation.
Firefighters also were sent to the Weminuche Wilderness Area in southwest Colorado to put out a small fire that broke out on Monday.
A Hotshot team, two air tankers and two helicopters were moved to the Durango Air Tanker Base to help fight any fires.
