‘Most Destructive’ Fire In Colorado History Engulfs Hundreds Of Homes, Forces 30,000+ To Evacuate: Reports

A massive fire in northern Colorado burned hundreds of homes to the ground in a suburban area and forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate their homes as strong winds of more than 100 mph caused the fire to spread rapidly.

“Nearly 600 homes have been destroyed in the Marshall Fire – along with hotels, shopping centers and businesses. The fire had burned 1,600 acres and was still growing Thursday night,” CBS News Denver reported. “All residents in the Town of Superior  and Louisville — and parts of Broomfield — were directed to evacuate due to threat of fire Thursday afternoon and evening.”

Images from local officials, journalists, and residents showed the enormity of the situation as it quickly spiraled out of control.

A lot of video coming in from across the area. Here is another one taken this afternoon from a BPD patrol car in the Superior/Louisville area. The smoke was so thick first responders were having trouble with visibility. The flames burned right up to the roads. #MarshallFire pic.twitter.com/AhwuOKTlKk

— Broomfield Police (@BroomfieldPD) December 31, 2021

This video was taken by BPD Patrol Officers in Superior…E of US-36…this afternoon. Our thoughts are with our neighbors tonight who lost their homes and businesses. We continue to assist our law enforcement and fire partners as necessary. #MarshallFire #MiddleForkFire pic.twitter.com/ceydZAAfEM

— Broomfield Police (@BroomfieldPD) December 31, 2021

This photo was taken by one of our patrol officers off of St. Andrews Lane in Superior this afternoon. @broomfield @NMFirePIO pic.twitter.com/mjIQhhEBzv

— Broomfield Police (@BroomfieldPD) December 31, 2021

Another one from McCaslin Blvd east of US 36 in Superior this afternoon. #MarshallFire #MiddleForkFire pic.twitter.com/JMSRFqRxhi

— Broomfield Police (@BroomfieldPD) December 31, 2021

More than 500 structures have been destroyed in the Marshall Fire in Boulder County on Thursday, according to Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle.

More wildfire coverage/raw video: https://t.co/rTJV5o1LMj pic.twitter.com/CeHwDKCb9h

— 9NEWS Denver (@9NEWS) December 31, 2021

Quite a commute. #marshallfire #boulder Foothills Parkway and Pearl in Boulder. @9NEWS @dailycamera pic.twitter.com/yxQ1TQTpGD

— Alyssa Lundgren (@LysLundgren) December 30, 2021

The winds will not stop.
Entire neighborhoods up in flames. #marshallfire pic.twitter.com/K2k6NWUC4N

— Sam Boik (@SamBoik) December 31, 2021

My son flew back to Seattle this evening. Here is a video he took of the Superior / Louisville fires from the plane at 5 pm. Our hearts go out to our neighbors in the fire’s path and the first responders working to save their homes and businesses. #MarshallFire pic.twitter.com/O6LXrOKCXT

— Gretchen Rosenberg (@GRDenver) December 31, 2021

Apocalyptic views of the #MarshallFire in Louisville, Colorado. Mind boggling what has happened today. #COwx pic.twitter.com/D4RRdhMXGU

— US StormWatch (@US_Stormwatch) December 31, 2021

#MarshallFire #COwx #4wx our Photojournalist Robert Sanchez just sent this back to the station. Gut-wrenching!! pic.twitter.com/HBsQI5uIcl

— Chris Spears (@ChrisCBS4) December 30, 2021

“Superior’s 12,000 people were the first to be evacuated, followed by Louisville with a population of about 20,000. Later in the evening, evacuations widened and parts of Broomfield were under pre-evacuation orders,” The Denver Post reported. With emergency responders scrambling to shut down roadways, the fire spread so quickly that Boulder County officials asked the public to stop calling 911 to report downed trees and blown over vehicles, the outlet reported.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis declared a state of emergency following the outbreak of the fire, which the governor’s office said was “created by high winds across the Front Range.”

“Don’t head towards the fires looking to see them,” Polis said. “We are getting reports of clogged roads from onlookers. Also, it’s very dangerous. Stay clear of the areas with fires and let our firefighters and first responders do their work.”

The Boulder Office of Emergency Management instructed people who live in the area to not return to their homes after they have left because it complicated the jobs of first responders.

“Residents who evacuated/have property in evacuation zones, please do NOT return to the area,” Boulder OEM said in a tweet. “We know that you are concerned about your home/belongings. First responders are working non-stop to keep everyone safe, even as they don’t know the status of their own homes in the area.”

Residents who evacuated/have property in evacuation zones, please do NOT return to the area. We know that you are concerned about your home/belongings. First responders are working non-stop to keep everyone safe, even as they don’t know the status of their own homes in the area.

— Boulder OEM (@BoulderOEM) December 31, 2021

“This was consuming football-field lengths of land in seconds. We had never seen anything like it. This was a horrific event,” Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle said at a news conference. “There was a lot of brave stuff going on out there today.”

“If the damage is confirmed, the Marshall fire will be the most destructive in Colorado history in terms of the number of homes lost,” the Colorado Sun reported. “Pelle said that 370 homes were lost in the Sagamore neighborhood in Superior alone, and an additional 210 may have been destroyed in Old Town Superior.