# Breaking News: Boulder Fires (30-DEC-2021) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 30, 2021, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-boulder-fires-30-dec-2021/956950 "2021-12-30T22:51:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-boulder-fires-30-dec-2021/956950/1 "2021-12-30T22:51:29Z")
There are two fast spreading grass fires in Boulder County, Colorado, being driven by up to 100 mph winds. Very scary footage on Twitter of fire sweeping across roads and toward buildings. I’ll grab some cites in a moment. Two towns are ordered evacuated Superior and Louisville. My kids and spouse are in Gunbarrel, packed up and ready to evacuate if necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-boulder-fires-30-dec-2021/956950/2 "2021-12-30T22:52:12Z")
AP article: > **[Colorado wildfires burn hundreds of homes, force evacuations](https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-fires-colorado-denver-ad43bbca5cd0f099740a9a66d783c29c)** > > DENVER (AP) — An estimated 580 homes, a hotel and a shopping center have burned and tens of thousands of people were evacuated in wind-fueled wildfires outside Denver, officials said Thursday evening. My sister and nephews are in Lafayette. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-boulder-fires-30-dec-2021/956950/3 "2021-12-30T22:53:13Z")
Here’s another. > **[Amid strong winds in Boulder County, fast-moving grass fires force...](https://www.denver7.com/news/wildfire/multiple-grass-fires-break-out-in-boulder-county-amid-strong-winds)** > > Multiple growing and fast-moving grass fires have forced evacuations in Boulder County as strong winds continue to blow through the area and spread the fire to homes. Read this story for the latest. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-boulder-fires-30-dec-2021/956950/4 "2021-12-30T22:55:46Z")
There’s a tweet with video of parents inside a Chuck E. Cheese seeing flames coming toward the building, scrambling to get their kids and get into cars and go. The parking lot is full of smoke and falling ash. They can’t get the doors open at one point due to the wind. Here’s the tweet: > ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-boulder-fires-30-dec-2021/956950/5 "2021-12-30T22:59:00Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > My sister and nephews are in Lafayette. Are they under a “get ready” order? It seems like that’s very close to the areas that evacuated. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-boulder-fires-30-dec-2021/956950/6 "2021-12-30T22:59:43Z")
I’m trying to get ahold of them now; they may all be at work. ETA: I’m told they are all okay and getting ready to evacuate if given the order. \< phew! \> ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-boulder-fires-30-dec-2021/956950/7 "2021-12-30T23:03:44Z")
Glad you got ahold of them. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-boulder-fires-30-dec-2021/956950/8 "2021-12-30T23:13:17Z")
My nephews say they have already left the house. They sent pics: [![](https://i.ibb.co/BjC5pqK/BG-fire-pic-1.jpg) ](https://i.ibb.co/BjC5pqK/BG-fire-pic-1.jpg) [![](https://i.ibb.co/qYTt57q/ZG-fire-pic-1.jpg) ](https://i.ibb.co/qYTt57q/ZG-fire-pic-1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-boulder-fires-30-dec-2021/956950/9 "2021-12-30T23:34:48Z")
A video from a tweet showing how fast the fire is moving. Camera is outside someone’s home (they were obviously elsewhere). > ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-boulder-fires-30-dec-2021/956950/10 "2021-12-30T23:49:18Z")
> [@eschrodinger](#): > > My kids and spouse are in Gunbarrel, packed up and ready to evacuate if necessary. My house is in Gunbarrel, but I’m not at it. My sister is keeping an eye on things. Fortunately it looks more like we’ll be taking in evacuees than becoming them at this point. ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-boulder-fires-30-dec-2021/956950/11 "2021-12-30T23:49:31Z")
This exact fear (high winds and fire on the Great Plains) is why I am committed to buying a home that is built as much like a concrete bunker as possible, and preferably surrounded by gravel rather than grass. Unfortunately, I don’t know that such a home exists. But, yeah, that’s pretty intense. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-boulder-fires-30-dec-2021/956950/12 "2021-12-30T23:52:03Z")
> **[Most destructive wildfires in state history ravage Colorado](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10356817/Wildfire-spreads-Boulder-Louisville-power-lines-down.html)** > > Colorado on Thursday suffered the most devastating wildfire for homes in state history, with 580 properties lost in a wildfire near Boulder, sparked by high winds downing power lines. ---
**Author:** ![Ranch\_Dip](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranch_dip/32/5238_2.png) [@Ranch\_Dip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranch_Dip)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2021, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-boulder-fires-30-dec-2021/956950/13 "2021-12-31T00:10:44Z")
Welcome to the apocalypse. Yikes. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2021, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-boulder-fires-30-dec-2021/956950/14 "2021-12-31T00:16:39Z")
I heard about this earlier on “All Things Considered” and wondered how they could have grass fires when the region just got heavy snow. And that’s the problem - the REGION got it, but not the immediate area. Hope the fire only affects unpopulated areas and that everyone is safe. ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2021, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-boulder-fires-30-dec-2021/956950/15 "2021-12-31T00:20:33Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Hope the fire only affects unpopulated areas Reports are at least 580 homes burned in Superior. This is a suburb, not a rural area. ---
**Author:** ![Bootb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@Bootb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootb)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2021, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-boulder-fires-30-dec-2021/956950/16 "2021-12-31T00:20:40Z")
Off topic, but regarding @Duckster’s link–having grown up just before the World Wide Web really took off, I still find it slightly bizarre that I can read a newspaper that’s based several thousand miles away from me about an event that’s less than 200 miles from me. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2021, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-boulder-fires-30-dec-2021/956950/17 "2021-12-31T00:22:08Z")
I’m very sorry to see that. They didn’t have damage reports at the time, primarily because the information was changing so rapidly. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2021, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-boulder-fires-30-dec-2021/956950/18 "2021-12-31T00:27:56Z")
There are supposed to be huge storms coming in late tonight & tomorrow. Let’s hope it helps put out the fires. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2021, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-boulder-fires-30-dec-2021/956950/19 "2021-12-31T01:05:39Z")
I saw news coverage of folks being told to leave a grocery store. One could see thick smoke as they were leaving. Why in the heck were they shopping when an event like that was going on? ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2021, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-boulder-fires-30-dec-2021/956950/20 "2021-12-31T01:12:41Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > Why in the heck were they shopping when an event like that was going on? I think you underestimate how strong the winds are, and how quickly the fire moves. It is entirely possible that the fire wasn’t apparent when they entered the store. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-boulder-fires-30-dec-2021/956950.md?page=2)