Residents of Table Mesa, Martin Acres and Eldorado Springs have been put on emergency evacuation alerts, with firefighters saying they have zero fire restrictions. Other evacuation areas include the Chautauqua, Interurban Park and Highland Park neighborhoods in addition to the Boulder open space west of these neighborhoods. University of Colorado Boulder police evacuated CU South because of the fire, and police also blocked traffic west on Table Mesa Drive on Vassar Drive. In all, the evacuation area now includes 19,000 people and 8,000 homes, according to Boulder’s Emergency Management Office. East Boulder Community Center, 5660 Sioux Drive, has opened as an evacuation point and will also serve as an overnight shelter. The American Red Cross answers. Pets are welcome at the East Boulder Community Center, but these animals can also be transported to the Humane Society of Boulder Valley, 2323 55th St. Free pet food and supplies are also available there. The Boulder County Fairgrounds at 9595 Nelson Road in Longmont now host large animals. The fire has reached 122 acres and is still at zero limit, but no injuries or damage have been reported. Boulder-Fire rescue officials said the fire was moving south, not toward the city, but as precautionary teams were stationed near Stony Hill Drive southeast of NCAR to create a wet zone about 30 feet from the houses as a barrier. Officials said the blaze came about a tenth of a mile from homes in the area, although it is not believed to be threatened at this time. “The crews did a great, great job keeping it out of the subdivision down here, down here, on the west end of town,” said Boulder Fire and Rescue Chief Brian Oliver. No injuries were reported from the blaze. Boulder Fire-Rescue spokeswoman Marya Washburn told a news conference at 7 p.m. that officials did not expect more evacuations, although he asked residents to stay alert and have their phones with them. Washburn said crews would review evacuation orders in the next few hours to see if any could be lifted. Officials said the blaze started at about 2 p.m., with winds in the area at a speed of about 15 to 25 miles per hour from the northwest. The winds dropped in the afternoon and Oliver said the crews hoped to take advantage of the overnight weather. “We will put the crews to work on mopping and securing things overnight while the humidity is high,” Oliver said. Oliver said crews were likely to work on the fire in the coming days due to the amount of fuel, with dormant trees and dry grass. “That’s why we had such active fire behavior,” Oliver said. “We are not yet at this stage of spring greenery.” Washburn also warned that changes in wind and atmospheric pressure would lead to more smoke in Boulder, but did not indicate increased fire activity. Boulder had requested two tankers from Texas, but officials did not know when they would arrive, and Oliver said all air strikes would have to be stopped overnight. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis issued a statement Saturday. “We are grateful for the prompt action and response to this fire by our firefighters and our first responders,” Polis said. “State officials spoke with Sheriff (Joe) Pell this afternoon and the state has deployed two firefighting aircraft, including a tanker, an engineer and a Type 2 helicopter, and is ready to assist. We will continue to monitor this evolving situation. “ Boulder resident Isabella Fortunato was hiking with friends and Luna’s dog on the Bear Canyon Trail on Saturday afternoon when they began to see puffy smoke and hikers running back on the trail. “I did not know what to think,” Fortunato said. “I have seen fires in the past, but never while hiking. “I was saying, ‘Do we have to go back?’” With their car parked in the NCAR parking lot and police blocking the Table Mesa in Vassar, Fortunato said they were stuck waiting for information. “I’m sure everyone is worried after (the Marshall fire),” Fortunato said. Climber Mathew Sahli also approached very close for comfort while climbing with friends on the south side of Seal Rock. “Someone saw black smoke,” he said. “It simply came to our notice then. We went up and around the west side of the formation. We went north and east to slide around the fire. It was wild. “ Sahli said their reaction was to evacuate immediately. In the NCAR parking lot, they caught a ride with a truck driver, who took them to the Table Mesa at the roadblock in Vassar. Stefan Codrescu, who lives on Vassar Drive, was working at the yard when he heard police and fire sirens rushing up the Table Mesa at around 2:15 p.m. From the corner of Vassar and Table Mesa, he watched the smoke drift over the nearby mountains. He said it was “a little worrying to have another one in the backyard”, especially after the Marshall Fire.
