Aurora Fire Rescue responded to a vegetation fire on Wednesday afternoon caused by people cooking in a homeless encampment, according to an AFR alert.

Firefighters received a call about the fire, which started in an open space near 2200 N. Himalaya Road, just south of I-70 near KeHE Distributors, around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Due to warm temperatures, dry vegetation, low humidity and gusty winds, the fire moved quickly east along I-70 toward Picadilly Road.

By 1 p.m., firefighters had stopped the fire’s progress, and by 2 p.m., firefighters had the fire under control, the alert said.

The fire burned about 8.5 acres of vegetation. It did not threaten any structures nor cause any injuries.

AFR investigators determined that people cooking at a homeless encampment accidentally started the fire, the AFR alert said.

In recent months, Aurora City Council members have gone back and forth on a proposed resolution that, if passed at a future regular meeting, would reinstate a requirement for homeless abatement officials to provide people in homeless encampments a 72-hour notice before clearing encampments.

In February 2025, Aurora lawmakers got rid of requirements to provide shelter options and a 72-hour notice before sweeps.

The 2025 decision followed a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that the Eighth Amendment’s cruel and unusual punishment clause does not prohibit the enforcement of a rule prohibiting camping on public property, according to the language of the ordinance.

Councilmember Rob Andrews proposed bringing the notice back.

Public safety has been a major concern from those in opposition to Andrews’ resolution, with councilmembers like Angela Lawson saying that encampments pose fire and other health and safety risks.

However, the resolution states that any encampment presenting an imminent public health or safety risk is exempt from the requirement.

Lawson and other conservative councilmembers have also expressed opposition because they believe it is the first step in a “slow repeal” of the city’s camping ban under a new progressive-majority City Council.

The encampment was located on private property, so Aurora’s Homeless Abatement and Relocation Team was not involved in any abatements at the location, an Aurora Police Department spokesperson told The Denver Gazette Friday.

In instances of encampments on private property, the property owner is responsible for abating the encampment and pressing charges for trespass, the spokesperson said.

The investigation is still open, so it is unclear if charges related to the fire will be pressed against the people at the encampment, the spokesperson said.