NEDERLAND, Colo. — An evacuation order was lifted for part of Nederland after a fire at the Caribou Village Shopping Center early Thursday morning damaged several businesses, according to the Boulder County Sheriff's Office.
Everyone who lived in the affected area was allowed to return to their homes, but those in Big Springs were warned about road closures and told to access their subdivision via Peakview Road near the Sundance Cafe off State Highway 119.
People in the areas between Peak to Peak Highway and Peakview Road, as well as those from Bridge west to Highway 119, were ordered to evacuate around 4:30 a.m. Thursday.
- You can see the map of the affected area in the video player below:
Anyone near Hurricane Hill and the areas south of Highway 119, between Bridge west and Hurricane Hill, were also instructed to leave the area.
The Boulder County Sheriff's Office public information officer, Vinnie Montez, said a deputy spotted the fire and called it in around 3:41 a.m. Thursday. In 2023, Nederland got rid of its police department so the Boulder County Sheriff's Office now patrols the town.
The sheriff's office said the two-story structure of businesses along the south side of the shopping center was fully engulfed in flames and sustained the most significant damage.
The sheriff's office closed several roads due to the fire, including Big Springs Drive eastbound at Highway 119/Peak to Peak Highway. Eastbound Lakeview Drive at Highway 119 and Westbound Lakeview Drive at Conger Street were also shut down.
The Nederland Fire Protection District was able to get the fire under control. However, about 20 businesses in the shopping center were severely damaged, according to a social media post from Brightwood Music that was one of them.
"I’m absolutely heartbroken. This morning the shopping center in Nederland, Colorado where my gallery was located went up in flames. Even though the gallery was closed I still had the space until the end of the year. My personal art collection is gone. My cats who lived next door at the Stained Glass studio since I moved back to NZ have died in the fire," Roz Kean Bagtaz, who operates Kaleidoscope Fine Arts Gallery, said on Facebook.
Tres Gringos posted on Facebook that the Mexican restaurant will be closed for the foreseeable future due to the fire.
However, the Boulder County Sheriff's Office said the Carousel of Happiness, the B&F Market and The Train Cars Coffee and Kava survived the fire.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will help determine the cause and origin of the blaze.
As firefighters continue to monitor hotspots, the Boulder County Sheriff's Office asked people who live in Nederland to conserve water, so it's available for crews.
Anyone with information about the fire that may help with the investigation, please contact the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office tip line at: BCSOtips@bouldercounty.gov or 303-441-3674.
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