Firefighters were battling a second-alarm wildfire in Douglas County on Sunday that prompted immediate evacuations, according to South Metro Fire Rescue.
South Metro crews responded to reports of multiple vegetation fires surrounding train tracks in the 9800 block of Titan Court just after 2 p.m. Sunday, according to the agency. That’s south of Chatfield State Park.
The fire and heavy smoke are visible from U.S. 285, but drivers should not stop along the highway, South Metro officials said.
A video posted by the fire agency at 4:48 p.m. shows a wall of smoke wafting up from a grassy area and large tongues of flame licking up from the hillside.
At that time, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office had issued CodeRED evacuations for the town of Louviers, according to South Metro.
The American Red Cross of the Mile High Area opened an evacuation center at the Douglas County Fairgrounds at 500 Fairgrounds Road in Castle Rock, according to a news release.
“Anyone impacted by mandatory evacuation or pre-evacuation orders can seek refuge at the shelter,” Red Cross officials stated in the release. “All are welcome in Red Cross shelters, including pets.”
The initial grass fires were upgraded to second-alarm wildland-urban interface fires soon after they were reported as South Metro crews called for backup, agency officials said.
The wildland-urban interface is the area where human development meets natural terrain and flammable vegetation, according to the Colorado State Forest Service.
It’s difficult for crews to get a size estimate because of the multiple spot fires burning, South Metro Fire Rescue spokesperson Brian Willie said.
While the size and cause of the fires remain unknown, Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson Kara Van Hoose said one burned at least 20 acres inside Chatfield.
No buildings had been lost as of Sunday afternoon, but South Metro officials said the fire was spreading through open space and threatening at least one structure.
Information about the size and cause of the fire was not available.
South Metro officials said the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, West Metro Fire Rescue and the West Douglas County Fire Protection District were all assisting with the fire.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
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