Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostFire consumes a home in Superior on Dec. 30, 2021. Fierce winds have whipped wildfires in Boulder County. The towns of Superior and Louisville have been evacuated. Multiple homes and businesses have burned so far from the fast moving fire stoked by fierce winds, with gusts topping 100 miles per hour along the foothills.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostSmoke from nearby fires obscures visibility in Superior on Dec. 30, 2021. Fierce winds have whipped wildfires in Boulder County — the towns of Superior and Louisville have been evacuated. Multiple homes and businesses have burned from the fast moving fire stoked by fierce winds, with gusts topping 100 mph, along the foothills.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostA horse runs through Grasso Park in Superior on Dec. 30, 2021. Fierce winds have whipped wildfires in Boulder County. The towns of Superior and Louisville have been evacuated. Multiple homes and businesses have burned so far from the fast moving fire stocked by fierce winds, with gusts topping 100 mph, along the foothills.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostOfficials direct traffic as fire burns in nearby neighborhoods in Superior on Dec. 30, 2021. Fierce winds have whipped wildfires in Boulder County Ñ the towns of Superior and Louisville have been evacuated. Multiple homes and businesses have burned from the fast moving fire stoked by fierce winds, with gusts topping 100 mph, along the foothills.
Hyoung Chang, The Denver PostSmoke rises from grass fires in Boulder County, as seen from 96th Street and West Dillon Road in Louisville on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021.
Hyoung Chang, The Denver PostA police officer secures 96th Street and West Dillon Road in Louisville on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostFires burn in neighborhoods in Superior on Dec. 30, 2021. Fierce winds have whipped wildfires in Boulder County — the towns of Superior and Louisville have been evacuated. Multiple homes and businesses have burned from the fast moving fire stoked by fierce winds, with gusts topping 100 mph, along the foothills.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostA Christmas wreath hangs on the side of a house where fire creeps towards the back on Dec. 30, 2021 in Superior. Fierce winds have whipped wildfires in Boulder County. The towns of Superior and Louisville have been evacuated. Multiple homes and businesses have burned from the fast moving fire stoked by fierce winds, with gusts topping 100 mph, along the foothills. The fire has officially been named the Marshall Fire.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostA structure begins to burn on Dec. 30, 2021 in Superior. Fierce winds have whipped wildfires in Boulder County. The towns of Superior and Louisville have been evacuated. Multiple homes and businesses have burned from the fast moving fire stoked by fierce winds, with gusts topping 100 mph, along the foothills. The fire has officially been named the Marshall Fire.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostFires burn in neighborhoods in Superior on Dec. 30, 2021. Fierce winds have whipped wildfires in Boulder County — the towns of Superior and Louisville have been evacuated. Multiple homes and businesses have burned from the fast moving fire stoked by fierce winds, with gusts topping 100 mph, along the foothills.
Hyoung Chang, The Denver PostSmoke rises from grass fires in Boulder County, as seen from 96th St. and West Dillon in Louisville on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostA person tries to put out fire around a house near Coal Creek Drive and Mohawk circle in Superior on December 30, 2021. Fierce winds have whipped wildfires in Boulder County. The towns of Superior and Louisville have been evacuated. Multiple homes and businesses have burned so far from the fast moving fire stoked by fierce winds, with gusts topping 100 mph, along the foothills.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostFire crews think the Marshall Fire may have started from down power lines. Power lines are seen here amid a burning field in Broomfield on Dec. 30, 2021.
Hyoung Chang, The Denver PostPolice officers secure 96th Street and West Dillon Road in Louisville on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021.
Hyoung Chang, The Denver PostPolice officer explains a road closure to a driver heading to Superior at the corner of 96th St. and West Dillon Rd. in Louisville on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021.
Kathryn Scott, Special to The Denver PostA line of cars is seen heading east on Baseline Road out of Lafayette as people try to evacuate as the Marshall fire burns on Dec. 30, 2021.
Kathryn Scott, Special to The Denver PostEmployees and volunteers at the YMCA of Northern Colorado in Lafayette greet evacuees from the Marshall Fires as they help them carry their belongings and pets on Dec. 30, 2021.
Eric Lutzens, The Denver PostLeft to right: Elizabeth Ybarra, Michelle Alvarez, Rita Ybarra, and Adriana Garcia watch the smoke plume and progress of the fires burning in Superior and Louisville on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021. The family lives near by and was concerned if the fire turns south-east the grasslands in the foreground would be in trouble.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostThe Marshall Fire continues to burn out of control near Broomfield on Dec. 30, 2021.
Kathryn Scott, Special to The Denver PostHayden Outlaw, 19, left, along with his younger brother Gavin, 17, kneeling, ask evacuee Pam Allen if they can get water or food for her and her cat "Allie". The two brothers work summers at the YMCA of Northern Colorado and came to the center to volunteer and help with people like Pam who are fleeing the Marshall Fires burning nearby in Lafayette on Dec. 30, 2021.
Kathryn Scott, Special to The Denver PostA large trailer filled with horses joins other horse and large animal owners as they flee the Marshall Fires burning close by and fill the Boulder County Fairgrounds in Longmont on Dec. 30, 2021.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostChristmas lights adorn a house as fires rage in the background in Louisville on Dec. 30, 2021. Fierce winds have whipped wildfires in Boulder County. The towns of Superior and Louisville have been evacuated. Multiple homes and businesses have burned so far from the fast moving fire stoked by fierce winds, with gusts topping 100 mph, along the foothills.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostThe Marshall Fire continues to burn out of control on Dec. 30, 2021. Winds reached speed of up to 100 miles per hour, driving the fire through the populated areas of Superior and Louisville.
Hyoung Chang, The Denver PostA resident asks for access to his home at 96th Street and West Dillon Road in Louisville on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021. He declined to be identified, but said he could see his home burning.
Hyoung Chang, The Denver PostGrass fires damages structures in Boulder County as seen from 96th Street and West Dillon in Louisville on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostA good samaritan tosses buckets of water on a home that was burnt in the Marshall Fire in Boulder County on Dec. 31, 2021 in Louisville .
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostA home burns on South Boulder Road as the Marshall Fire sweeps through Boulder County, burning more than 1,000 homes, on Dec. 30, 2021 in Boulder.
Eric Lutzens, The Denver PostFires fueled by heavy winds destroy homes in a subdivision near Level 3 Communications in Superior on Thursday night, Dec. 30, 2021.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostChristmas decorations are outside a home destroyed by the Marshall Fire on Dec. 31, 2021 in Louisville.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostFire crew work to put out flames at a home burnt in the Marshall Fire in Boulder County on Dec. 31, 2021 in Louisville.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostHouses smolder in the aftermath of the Marshall fire in Rock Creek above the Interlocken golf course Dec. 31, 2021. The Marshall fire, fueled by very high winds, destroyed over 500 houses.
Andy Cross, The Denver PostMembers of the National Guard stage at the incident command center, FlatIron Crossing Mall in response to the nearby Marshall Fire on Dec. 31, 2021. The Marshall fire, fueled by very high winds, destroyed over 500 houses.
Hart Van Denburg, CPR News, PoolAboard a Colorado National Guard helicopter, Gov. Jared Polis on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, gets a flyover tour of Boulder County neighborhoods destroyed by wildfires the previous day. He was accompanied by Brig. Gen. Laura Clellan, Adjutant General of Colorado, and Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle. Colorado U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet and Rep. Joe Neguse also toured the area in a separate helicopter.
Hart Van Denburg, CPR News, PoolAboard a Colorado National Guard helicopter, Gov. Jared Polis on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, gets a flyover tour of Boulder County neighborhoods destroyed by wildfires the previous day.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
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Fire consumes a home in Superior on Dec. 30, 2021. Fierce winds have whipped wildfires in Boulder County. The towns of Superior and Louisville have been evacuated. Multiple homes and businesses have burned so far from the fast moving fire stoked by fierce winds, with gusts topping 100 miles per hour along the foothills.
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By Helen H. Richardson | hrichardson@denverpost.com | The Denver Post, Hyoung Chang | hchang@denverpost.com | The Denver Post, RJ Sangosti | rsangosti@denverpost.com | The Denver Post, Eric Lutzens | The Denver Post, Kathryn Scott | kscott@denverpost.com | Special to The Denver Post and Andy Cross | across@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
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A wind-whipped grassfire roared east near Boulder Thursday afternoon, destroying at least 500 homes, closing major highways and causing the evacuation of more than 30,000 people in two towns, including hospital patients.
The Marshall fire, which officials said likely was sparked by downed power lines in the winds that reached gusts of more than 100mph, grew to 1,600 acres by 5 p.m., Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle said in an evening news conference. More than 200 structures may have been lost to the flames in downtown Superior, he said.
“We are literally watching it burn,” Superior Mayor Clint Folsom said. “This is devastating for our people.”
