A slow-moving wildfire burned nearly 4 acres in the Flatirons near the National Center for Atmospheric Research, southwest of Boulder, on Friday.
Firefighters responded to the Dinosaur fire on the second switchback about 11:45 a.m., according to the Boulder Office of Disaster Management and Mountain View Fire Rescue.
No evacuation or pre-evacuation notices were issued Friday, although all trails near NCAR are closed because of the fire.
Boulder emergency officials issued an advisory for areas southwest of Boulder to “be aware of your surroundings at all times.”
“While there are no evacuation orders for the Dinosaur fire at this time, those who require extra time or have to transport medical equipment should begin making preparation plans now,” fire officials said in the advisory.
#DinosaurFire Update:
As of 2:30 p.m., the fire is estimated at 3.5 acres and remains slow moving. Over 75 firefighters are on scene. Two helicopters are actively dropping water on the fire.
For more information, including maps, visit https://t.co/N2s403JTuf pic.twitter.com/D4StehStJf— Boulder Office of Disaster Management (@BoulderOEM) July 12, 2024
More than 75 firefighters responded, and fire crews will continue working overnight, Boulder emergency officials said in an update. The fire was an estimated 3.5 acres and burning a quarter of a mile west of NCAR but was not threatening any structures.
Kim Sorkiness, who was hiking in the area Friday morning, said she passed through the area minutes before the flames started.
“I stopped to give my dog water farther up the trail, and when I turned around I was like, ‘Oh, my goodness, there’s a huge fire right there. That’s crazy,'” she said.
Sorkiness was taking photos in the area and photographed the fire at 11:26 a.m., watching it for a few minutes before the wind picked up and she ran away.
Air tankers and helicopters began dropping water and fire retardant on the flames by 1 p.m. Friday, and fire crews encountered minimal wind despite record-breaking heat and low humidity, according to the National Weather Service.
Smoke from the fire prompted state Public Health and Environment officials to issue an air-quality health advisory for southern Boulder County until 9 a.m. Saturday. People with heart disease, respiratory issues, seniors and young children should stay indoors if the smoke is thick, according to the agency.
