BREAKING - Wildfire in Boulder County, CO

[link to www.9news.com]

BOULDER COUNTY - Fire crews have contained one wildfire, but a second wildfire has grown to 100 acres, fueled by high winds.

"We originally had two fires. The first fire has been fully contained," said Sarah Huntley, a spokeswoman for the city of Boulder.

Officials have closed down the North Foothills Highway and Highway 36, between Broadway (Boulder's northern-most city limit) and Hygiene Road, which is two miles south of Lyons.

According to officials in Boulder County, the first blaze, believed to have been sparked by a downed power line near 45th Street and Neva Road, west of Niwot, has been contained. Officials say a house and barn were burned to the ground.

"The fire we continue to be concerned about is the fire that started a short while later at the 7200 block of Olde Stage Road," said Huntley.

Boulder County sheriff's deputies evacuated homes within a one-mile radius of both fires, and evacuees were being directed to Niwot High School and to Centennial Middle School.

Deputies say no injuries have been reported at this time.

Authorities say there are 10,800 homes in the area, and a reverse emergency call went out to notify 11,000 homes urging residents to evacuate.

Boulder County deputies say the second fire reached Highway 36, then jumped the highway, causing concern for authorities.

Deputies were evacuating near the second fire, and fire crews are on scene. Evacuees of the second fire have been told to flee either to the north or south of the fire.

Animals being evacuated can be taken to the Boulder County Fairgrounds and to the Sombrero Ranch, deputies say.

The Boulder Reservoir, located at 5565 N. 51st St., was also shut down on Wednesday due to the fires.

An information line has been set up for the general public. The numbers are: 720-564-2932 and 720-564-2942.

The Mile High Chapter of the Red Cross has responded to the scene, where it is feeding and supporting the first responders and evacuees at Niwot High School.

9NEWS and 9NEWS.com will update this story as more information becomes available.

Fire dept spokesman says three homes burned.

This is east of the City of Boulder, semi-suburban rural sort of living with plety of homes. Many people may be impacted if the wind keeps up.

They're still broadcasting, but seem to have stopped the webcast. Well, maybe not.

Here's another link, if I find a live cam I'll post it.

[link to www.rockymountainnews.com]

I can tell you people are on the edge of your seats.

It is hard to fathom a forest fire in the middle of winter.

It's not a forest, it's grassland, heavily infested with middle class humans. A few trees.

This is having trouble loading on my computer, maybe it will work on yours.

[link to cbs4denver.com]

Click the webcast link at the top.

Thanks for the stars.

Original link is working, with pretty impressive flames moving toward the Dakota Ridge subdivision. Firefighters sound confident. They say you can see it from Broomfield.

Highway 36 (Boulder Turnpike) closed! Reporters chased away by fire!

Now helicopter shots.

[link to www.9news.com]

hm, so if the university burns down does that mean i get my degree early?

Highway 36 (Boulder Turnpike) closed!

My mistake, not the Turnpike, but Foothills Pkwy North of the City.

Lots of horses at risk, evidently.

They say the'll stream the webcam when they go off the air.

LOL University not at risk.

You should be so lucky.

wind direction is?......

Its only five miles south of one of my favorite towns, Lyons. And there are lots of really nice houses in between. We are looking at 50 mph sustained winds with as high as a 107mph gust reported.

We are all hoping the winds die down soon...

Winds are blowing north, northwest.

According to News 4 Boulder County Fairgrounds in Longmont is full. Another ranch is taking animals now.

my stepdaughter is N of Longmont....chance of this spreading that direction is...............?

anyone?

Your daughter is likely to be fine. The fire has jumped east of Hwy 36 but firefighters are working very hard to contain.

Greatest worry is likely west of Hwy 36 and northwest of there.

Longmont is pretty far east of the fire location.

Changing frequently.

Longmont spreads almost to the foothills these days, almost to Lyons.

I thought it was much further south than Lyons. Are there multiple fires?

Sustained winds are now dying down.

thank you!

be safe!

I was repeating what someone said about it being five miles south of Loyons - perhaps as the crow flies?

In any case, the reporters near the fire were near the Greenbriar Inn which apparently is safe - one fire is west of 36 and Old Stage Rd. The other I believe is off of Neva Rd.

I just heard that the winds were pushing the fire east toward open space.. otherwise it is about 1/4 mile from more homes.

The fires are really in somewhat open countryside. Some of the most beautiful prairie areas in northwest Boulder County.

Looks pretty windy to me.

Big flareup just now.

Yes, OP - I think they are trying to be optimistic about the winds. The flames do look horizontal at times.

Ed Greene of New s 4 just said high winds till 9 - 10 pm with wind gusts up to 80mph...

They're saying this has a 12-14 mile perimeter!

That's a lot more than the hundred acres they reported a couple of hours ago.

They're talking about Niwot, not Lyons.

Sombrero Ranch in Longmont is the second location for large animals.

I could see it from my friend's apartment in south Boulder. I wouldn't be surprised if the whole hill is ablaze a few hours from now. My roommate will likely get pictures on his way home.