JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. — Pre-evacuation orders have been lifted after a Jefferson County grass fire, estimated to be at 130 acres, reached 80% containment as fire danger surges amid a record‑warm winter.
Fire officials were asking residents of the Candelas community to prepare to evacuate if needed. However, the notice was canceled late Saturday morning.
The blaze was sparked early Saturday morning near the Highway 72 and Highway 93 intersection in Jefferson County and burned through light, flashy fuels, spreading quickly in breezy, dry conditions.
Firefighters stopped its forward progress and reported 80% containment.
No structures were threatened, and the roads that had been closed earlier reopened by the afternoon.
Multiple agencies, including Arvada Fire and Coal Creek Canyon Fire, were working on hot spots and mop‑up.
"This is one of the most interesting challenges, the location, because there are numerous fire protection districts, as well as we're on a county boundary. So there's a lot of planning that goes into this every season," said Jefferson County Fire Management Officer Michael Smith.
That's why Jefferson County coordinates with various agencies to deploy the most effective emergency response.
"Those plans were executed extremely well [today] through the Incident Command System," said Smith.
Investigators believe the fire started along the railroad tracks, though it does not appear to be related to the tracks themselves, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
The cause remains under investigation.
The sheriff's office is asking anyone who witnessed the start or early stages of the fire to contact their tipline at 303-271-5612.
Denver is in the middle of one of its warmest winters on record, with 29 days hitting 60° or warmer, the second‑highest total ever recorded.
South Metro Fire Rescue said the warm, dry, breezy conditions expected Saturday are creating an abnormally high fire risk for February.
They offered the following precautions:
🔥 Avoid outdoor burning and always follow local fire restrictions
🔥 Properly dispose of cigarettes and smoking materials
🔥 Secure trailer chains to prevent sparks
🔥 Don’t park or drive over dry grass
These conditions have prompted the National Weather Service to issue a red flag warning for northeast Colorado on Saturday.
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