An investigation into the cause of a major fire that destroyed almost 1,000 homes and other structures in a suburban region near Denver is ongoing.
As a result of the fire that broke out on Thursday, three persons have gone missing.
Pelle said Saturday that officials were investigating a number of leads and they had issued a search warrant at one specific site. He was adamant about not disclosing any specifics.
According to an anonymous sheriff’s officer, a property in Boulder County’s Marshall Mesa area, an open grassland approximately 2 miles west of Superior, is under examination. According to the official, a National Guard Humvee was blocking entry to the property since it was one of several under investigation.
There were no fallen power lines in the region between Denver and Boulder where the fire started, according to utility authorities. Experts believe that the relatively late timing of the blaze, after extraordinarily dry autumn and a practically snow-free winter, contributed to its rapid growth.
According to Pelle, at least 991 residences and other structures were damaged or destroyed: 332 ub Superior, 553 in Louisville, and 106 in the unincorporated areas of the county. Several hundred more were harmed as a result. Despite the final total from the wind-whipped wildfire, Pelle warned that it was not yet complete.
In addition to wrecked barns, sheds, and other structures, Boulder County spokeswoman Jennifer Churchill said late Saturday that the great majority of those impacted were housed.
No one has been reported missing, according to the authorities. Because of the chaos inherent in emergency situations, Churchill attributed it to the confusion that ensues.
He said authorities were setting up search and rescue teams in the Superior region and Boulder County’s unincorporated areas. Debris from wrecked buildings and 8 inches (20 cm) of snow from a storm are complicating the effort, he added.
In the wildfire that had erupted in and around the nearby communities of Louisville and Superior, roughly 20 miles northwest of Denver and home to a combined population of more than 34,000 people, at least seven persons were wounded.
Despite the overnight snow and severe temperatures, the 9.4-square-mile (24-square-kilometer) flame was no longer deemed an urgent danger.
In the midst of the still-smoking ruins of houses, the snow and temps in the teens create an unsettling atmosphere. Despite the sudden change in the weather, the streets were still filled with the stench of smoke from the Humvees of National Guard men.
This year’s weather made it much more difficult for people to rescue what was left of their houses as they began the new year.
Hundreds of people waited in line at Red Cross shelters to get space heaters, drink water, and wait for blankets given by utility companies. Xcel Energy advised its customers to prevent their pipes from freezing by using fireplaces and wood stoves to remain warm.
Long lines of automobiles formed outside the YMCA in Lafayette, north of Superior, where families had lined up to take up bottled water and space heaters from the Salvation Army.
Gavin Sarasin, Noah’s twin brother, and other Monarch High School students had been working at the site for two days, managing traffic and delivering contributions.
“We have a house, no heat but we still have a house,” Noah Sarasin said. “I just want to make sure that everyone else has heat on this very cold day.”
A local eatery served Hilary and Patrick Wallace two hot chocolate mochas after they purchased two space heaters. When they couldn’t find a place to stay, the Superior couple contemplated trekking back to their house, which was still closed to traffic. On New Year’s Eve, the whole family stayed in one room.
There was an emotional moment when a guy visited the business and made light of the fact that he had been burned to death. The guy seemed to be in a good mood, guffawing at the absurdity of the scenario.
“I have a space heater and a house to put it in. I don’t even know what to say to them,” Hilary said, wiping her tears.
On the way to the store, Jeff Markley pulled up in his pickup. As far as he was concerned, he was fortunate to be simply relocated since his house was undamaged.
“We’re making do, staying with friends, and upbeat for the new year. Gotta be better than this last one,” Markley said.
“It’s bittersweet because we have our house, but our friends don’t. And our neighbors don’t,” said Judy Givens, Louisville resident, as she picked a heater with her spouse. “We thought 2022 might be better. And then we had omicron. And now we have this, and it’s not starting out very well.”
