Firefighters from multiple agencies battled a 30-acre grass fire that burned three structures in Weld County between Longmont and Frederick, according to Mountain View Fire officials.
The fire burned in the area of 348 Weld County Road 16 1/2, southeast of Longmont. It is now contained and crews are mopping up.
Weld County dispatchers initially said there were three structures in the area that were threatened. Footage from a Denver TV news helicopter showed at least two structures, and multiple vehicles, actively burning.
Mountain View Fire Assistant Chief Dave Beebe confirmed the loss of one barn and an attached garage, as well as damage to one house. He said there were no injuries to people, firefighters or the livestock that were evacuated.
Video of structure burning near WCR 16 1/2 pic.twitter.com/wipeDaqrem
Shortly after 4 p.m., Beebe said the winds continued to change directions as they were monitoring hot spots.
“In February, it’s a little rare, but when the conditions are like this it’s almost a given we’ll have fires like this,” he said. “It’s dry and warm and windy.”
East County Line Road closed between Hwy 52 and WCR 20 1/2.
Access opened at about 3:45 p.m. for residents in the area of WCR 16 1/2 to check on their homes and animals.
Parked in his car along East County Line Road, Jeff Arnold said he was playing basketball with his two sons when they smelled smoke and saw flames. He said they live in Frederick’s Whyndham Hill neighborhood, and drove out to watch the firefighters.
“We saw from our house, the initial smoke,” he said. “We called 911 and they didn’t know how close it was and I just said let’s get into the car and see how close this is in case we need to evacuate or anything. And I don’t think we’re in any immediate danger, but if this wind keeps switching directions… I hope nobody was in that house.”
Arnold said they watched people moving their livestock on one of the properties.
“Geez, that’s really cranking up,” he said as he watched flames approach two structures along the road.
Mountain View Fire Rescue said it was not clear whether the fire was the result of an agricultural burn.
The National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather outlook indicating low humidity and high winds that presented an increased fire danger, and a red flag warning for Boulder County was scheduled to be in place on Tuesday.
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