As many as 1,000 homes as well as local businesses were either destroyed or heavily damaged by the 6,000-acre Marshall Fire that quickly swept over Superior and Louisville Thursday afternoon, local and state officials said Friday morning.
Both Superior and Louisville were evacuated Thursday afternoon as flames rapidly tore into the two communities.
Gov. Jared Polis said at a press conference that most Colorado wildfires spread over a period of weeks or months. “This one played out in 105-miles-per hour winds in a half a day,” Polis said.
There continued to be some fire activity in the two communities and the fire is considered 0% contained. But rapidly cooling weather and snowfall was preventing the fire from spreading to any more homes, Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle told reporters at the Boulder County Office of Emergency Management.
Pelle also said there were no reports of casualties nor fatalities. “That’s awesome given the events of yesterday, it’s miraculous,” he said.
Downed power lines were the likely source of the fire although Pelle said his office is investigating all possibilities.
Pelle and Polis viewed the aftermath of the fire from the air before snow started falling and saw entire neighborhoods wiped out by the flames. Pelle said topography and erratic winds spared some homes but left others devastated.
“It left smoking holes in the ground instead of places to live,” Pelle said.
Crews are working to restore power though careful to inspect power lines before they are energized, Pelle said. Portions of U.S. 36 near Superior and Louisville are also closed and residents of both communities are being asked to boil water to make it safe for drinking.
President Joe Biden has issued a major disaster declaration that will usher in federal help and funding for the area, Polis said.
Pelle added emergency crews will begin going to each home to make a list of those destroyed. He said he hopes to have a list posted in a day or so. At least 200 people are estimated to be in area emergency shelters.
No schools were lost to the fire and local hospitals were also spared although many patients were evacuated to other facilities.
For information about the fire contact the Community Call Center at 303-413-7330. Also view other information at the Office of Emergency Management.
.
