GREELEY, Colo. — A fast-moving grass fire in Greeley killed one person and critically injured another Saturday afternoon as authorities investigate whether a microburst that damaged power poles in the area played any role in the blaze.
The fire broke out near the interchange of U.S. 34 and U.S. 85 and was spreading across several acres of open land near unhoused encampments. Crews from the Greeley Fire Department responded to the area around 1:39 p.m.
During the response, emergency personnel found a 45-year-old woman dead in the burn area and a 48-year-old man critically injured. The man was airlifted to a Denver hospital for treatment and is listed in critical condition. It's unclear if the two victims were associated with the encampments.
Firefighters faced additional challenges due to live Xcel Energy power lines near the scene. Xcel Energy told Denver7 that a microburst struck the area around the time of the fire, damaging power poles and leaving more than 3,500 customers without electricity. Service was restored later Saturday evening, according to the utility.
According to the National Weather Service, a microburst is a powerful, localized downdraft capable of producing damaging winds over a relatively small area.
Authorities have not determined what sparked the fire. A Greeley Police Department detective and the Greeley Fire Department's arson division are jointly investigating the fire's cause and origin.
The name of the deceased will be released by the Weld County Coroner's Office pending notification of next of kin. Anyone with information on this case is urged to contact Detective Max Moree at Max.Moree@greeleypd.com.
No additional details were released Sunday.