Brush fire burns in Cherry Creek State Park, forces evacuations

A brush fire was ignited Sunday afternoon in Cherry Creek State Park, causing evacuations of the park and surrounding neighborhoods.

South Metro Fire Rescue is fighting the fire that is said to have started at around 4 p.m.

High winds helped to quickly spread the fire, causing it to jump a road inside of the park and advance toward a nearby neighborhood, officials from South Metro said.

“The wind is fueling the northwest side of the fire, making suppression difficult and dangerous with embers getting into trees and causing branches to fall,” South Metro tweeted.

Firefighters will stay on the fire overnight to continue mop-up and to put out hot spots that flare up from the wind, 9News reported. The estimated size of the fire at this time is between 100 and 150 acres, South Metro said. Crews will be out Monday morning to get a more accurate size when there is sunlight.

The eastern fire line nearest to homes was controlled early in the evening while crews continued to work on active flames on the western side.

Evacuations lifted for 446-acre grass fire in Jefferson County

Evacuations have been ordered for anyone inside of the park as well as the homes in the area immediately west of South Parker Road.

No structures have been damaged and none are considered threatened at this time, officials said.

South Metro crews are working to gain control of the flames before the wind makes them grow larger. Additional South Metro units have been sent to the scene, in addition to a battalion and two engines from Aurora Fire Rescue.

Officials said the fire is being considered a wildland interface fire, meaning it has the potential to involve buildings and forest fuel or vegetation simultaneously.

There is not yet any information on how the fire started.

Officials from South Metro Fire Rescue work to contain a brush fire Sunday evening in the Cherry Creek State Park. (Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue)
Officials from South Metro Fire Rescue work to contain a brush fire Sunday evening in the Cherry Creek State Park. (Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue)

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