Evacuation orders remain Tuesday morning for more than 400 people as the Sunshine Wildland fire burns in the Pine Brook Hill community.
The wildfire has grown to 19 acres, according to an update from the Boulder Office of Emergency Management. The size was reassessed after a multi-mission aircraft flyover of the fire.
"There can be slight variances in the estimated fire size due to spot fires located just outside of the main fire footprint," the alert read.
Around 167 homes were evacuated Monday night, and one home on Sunshine Canyon Drive burned down, the office said. Another home on Bristlecone Way sustained damage.
At least 60 firefighters continued to battle the wildfire Tuesday morning, the agency said.
"Winds are forecast to remain light through the daytime, which should help with firefighting efforts," the alert read.
Another wildfire burned just before 11:30 p.m. Monday in the 10,000 block of Fourmile Canyon Drive, but was quickly extinguished, the Boulder County Sheriff's Office said in a news release. The fire burned in a yard near a mulch pile and grew to 1/10 of an acre, but no property was damaged, fire officials said.
The East Boulder Community Center, at 5660 Sioux Drive, opened as an evacuation site Monday evening, but closed at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday as evacuees found alternative places to stay, the Boulder Office of Emergency Management said in an alert.
The Boulder County Fairgrounds opened for large animal evacuations, and the Humane Society of Boulder Valley took small animal evacuations, in addition to providing food, water, bowls and crates.
The Anne U. White Trail and Bald Mountain open space are closed.
An evacuation warning was issued at 3:30 p.m. Monday for west Boulder between Linden and University avenues, but that warning was lifted at 5:10 p.m. "due to limited fire spread and improving weather conditions," according to a notification to residents.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued an air quality alert, which remains in effect through Tuesday morning for Boulder County.
"Periods of moderate to heavy smoke from the Sunshine fire will be possible from the location of the fire approximately 2 miles to the west of Boulder, eastward along Sunshine Canyon Drive into the Boulder metro area," the alert read.
"If smoke is thick or becomes thick in your neighborhood you may want to remain indoors. This is especially true for those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the very young, and the elderly. Consider limiting outdoor activity when moderate to heavy smoke is present. Consider relocating temporarily if smoke is present indoors and is making you ill."
If your visibility is less than five miles, smoke levels have reached unhealthy levels, the public health agency said in its alert.
