Updated at 11:03 p.m. on Wednesday, July 31, 2024
One person was killed and at least two homes were destroyed in the Stone Canyon fire, which sparked Tuesday and is burning near Lyons, Boulder County Sheriff Curtis Johnson said.
Police did not identify the person killed in the fire, but said the body was found in one of the homes. No other people in the wildfire area have been reported missing.
The cause of the wildfire is under investigation, Curtis said.
More than 100 firefighters worked overnight to contain the fire, which has forced many residents to flee their homes.
The Stone Canyon fire is covering an estimated 1,320 acres — or roughly two square miles — and has not been contained as of Tuesday morning, according to the Boulder Office of Disaster Management.
The fire has destroyed at least three other structures, but firefighters don’t know if those are homes, barns or other buildings, said Vinnie Montez, a spokesperson with the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office.
Crews from about a dozen Colorado agencies have helped fight the fire, including air drops of water and fire retardant to help smother the flames. Some of the aircraft were rerouted from the Alexander Mountain fire, which is burning roughly 25 miles to the north.
Aircraft will continue dropping water and fire retardant Wednesday, Johnson said. The focus if the firefighting efforts is currently on the northeastern edge of the blaze, which is the most active.
Authorities ordered evacuations for a wide region in and north of Lyons that extends from Ute Highway northeast to Devil’s Gulch and northwest to Carter Lake Reservoir.
The evacuations in the town near Eagle Canyon Road and Stone Canyon Drive were lifted Wednesday morning.
Will conditions for the Stone Mountain fire improve?
The wildfire was stoked by dry, warm weather on Tuesday, but firefighters could be helped by cooler weather on Wednesday.
Winds are expected to be light near the Stone Canyon fire and temperatures are forecasted to be cooler, according to the National Weather Service.
Wildfires in Colorado
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Ishan Thakore contributed to this report.
