South Metro Fire Rescue and several other agencies responded to a 2-acre fire that caused the evacuation of five homes Wednesday.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. — Fire officials are blaming a squirrel for starting a brush fire that threatened several homes in Douglas County. 

South Metro Fire Rescue said firefighters responded to a vegetation fire at 6544 Village Road southeast of Parker at around 5:45 p.m. Wednesday. The agency said multiple homes were evacuated, and they upgraded the response to a second-alarm brush fire. 

Rattlesnake Fire, Elizabeth Fire and Franktown helped with the response and a Douglas County helicopter made eight water drops to slow the fire’s spread, according to South Metro. The two-acre fire was declared under control about an hour after it started.

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