Crews work on a 500 acre fire on Dahlberg road in Franktown on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. Although no structures were threatened 20 homes in the area were evacuated and both a medium helicopter and large air tanker were called in to help fight the fire due to high winds and dry conditions in the area. (Stephen Swofford, Denver Gazette)
Responders reached 100% containment on a grass fire near Colorado Highway 83 in Douglas County on Thursday.
The wildfire, which spread rapidly and prompted mandatory evacuations near Franktown, sparked near Dahlberg and Lake Gulch Roads, the Franktown Fire District said just after 1 p.m. on social media.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office correspondingly issued an immediate evacuation order for the area, with an evacuation center established at the Douglas County Fairgrounds.
Crews work on a 500 acre fire on Dahlberg road in Franktown on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. Although no structures were threatened 20 homes in the area were evacuated and both a medium helicopter and large air tanker were called in to help fight the fire due to high winds and dry conditions in the area.
(Stephen Swofford, Denver Gazette)
The fire is “a threat to your safety and you should leave this area immediately,” the district said. “Leave now.”
During an afternoon news conference, officials did not confirm what they believed to be the cause of the fire, but did attribute its rapid growth to the current drought conditions in Douglas County, adding that the winter has been one of the driest on record.
Despite the containment, crews are still working on mop up to ensure the fire is truly out, district officials added. They also noted that air resources were used to help contain the blaze.
Crews work on a 500 acre fire on Dahlberg road in Franktown on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. Although no structures were threatened 20 homes in the area were evacuated and both a medium helicopter and large air tanker were called in to help fight the fire due to high winds and dry conditions in the area.
(Stephen Swofford, Denver Gazette)
The DCSO lifted the evacuation order by 4 p.m. Tuesday.
The office added that they were one of several agencies assisting with evacuations and traffic control because of the fast-moving fire, they said on social media.
The fire’s spark comes amid a Red Flag Warning issued by the National Weather Service Boulder for Denver, the Interstate 25 corridor and Front Range due to high temperatures and breezy winds.
Additional information “may be at the evacuation center,” according to the sheriff’s office alert.
Anyone should call 911 if they are in the area and need help evacuating.
Denver Gazette photographer Stephen Swofford contributed to this report.
Crews work on a 500 acre fire on Dahlberg road in Franktown on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. Although no structures were threatened 20 homes in the area were evacuated and both a medium helicopter and large air tanker were called in to help fight the fire due to high winds and dry conditions in the area.
(Stephen Swofford, Denver Gazette)Crews work on a 500 acre fire on Dahlberg road in Franktown on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. Although no structures were threatened 20 homes in the area were evacuated and both a medium helicopter and large air tanker were called in to help fight the fire due to high winds and dry conditions in the area.
(Stephen Swofford, Denver Gazette)Crews work on a 500 acre fire on Dahlberg road in Franktown on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. Although no structures were threatened 20 homes in the area were evacuated and both a medium helicopter and large air tanker were called in to help fight the fire due to high winds and dry conditions in the area.
(Stephen Swofford, Denver Gazette)Crews work on a 500 acre fire on Dahlberg road in Franktown on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. Although no structures were threatened 20 homes in the area were evacuated and both a medium helicopter and large air tanker were called in to help fight the fire due to high winds and dry conditions in the area.
(Stephen Swofford, Denver Gazette)
