Roughly 1,000 homes were evacuated Monday evening after a wildfire ignited across a steep mountain in Evergreen sending a column of smoke into the air that was visible from Denver.
The Elephant Butte Fire was burning on about 50 acres as of 7 p.m. and firefighters, helicopters and firefighting airplanes are scrambling to the area to knock down the blaze before it reaches area homes. More resources are being ordered, including at least one elite team of “hot shot” firefighters.
There have been no reports of injuries or destroyed structures.
The fire is burning just west of Evergreen Golf Course on the 3100 block of Upper Bear Creek Road. Flames engulfed the tops of trees at many points.
Stacee Martin, a spokeswoman for Evergreen Fire Rescue, said a 911 call about the fire was placed at about 2:45 p.m. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office began sending evacuation calls out shortly thereafter.
“It has grown rapidly because of the wind and the conditions,” Martin said. “This is in a very rocky part of our district.
The Denver area has seen hot weather for about a week straight with little moisture. A rainstorm moved across the burn area around dusk, which Martin said could help douse the flames but also create problems because of shifting winds.
Firefighters were contending with lightning in the area, which briefly forced them to seek shelter.
Officials say the cause of the fire is under investigation.
Fire danger across Colorado is high after an average snow season and following weeks of hot, dry weather. Resources are spread thin because of the coronavirus crisis, which officials have warned could make rapid response to a massive blaze more difficult.