The way a wildfire got started in Douglas County on July 15 perhaps exemplifies how close Colorado is to a serious situation at any given time.

According to South Metro Fire Rescue, their team responded to a vegetation fire near North Alpine Drive and Village Road at about 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday evening. Within about an hour, the blaze was under control, though the fire was cause for concern due to available fuel, its rate of spread, threatened structures, and the high heat index. It ultimately burned about two acres and while it prompted the evacuation of five homes, those residents have since been allowed to return to their dwellings.

Thanks to a speedy and effective firefighting effort, tragedy was prevented, but what makes this blaze notable is how it was started.

Investigators say it was sparked by a squirrel that came into contact with a power line. That’s all it took. Generally, this would mean it’s still classified as a ‘human-caused’ fire as it was the result of human-created infrastructure, though it also shows how a blaze might start without a human being present at all.

Meanwhile, some have blamed the start of the 99,820 Aspen Acres fire on the power infrastructure, as well, with four people filing a civil lawsuit against the San Isabel Electric Association that claims the company is allegedly responsible for the blaze.

Given that drought is still very present in Colorado and that hotter-than-normal conditions are expected to continue, it’s imperative that locals not only do their part to prevent wildfires, but also that people report smoke if it’s seen. Early detection can be key to preventing a wildfire’s spread and every second counts.

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