Firefighters will remain in Thornton throughout the night to monitor the remnants of a fast-moving grass fire that closed Interstate 25 for more than an hour Wednesday afternoon as police went door to door evacuating a nearby neighborhood.
The fire sparked alongside the interstate about 11:30 a.m. and burned 10 acres before it was declared contained about 2:10 p.m. A school and several businesses were also evacuated.
“This was a dynamic, rapidly spreading event that challenged many of the departments in the area,” Thornton Fire Chief Steve Kelly said at an afternoon briefing. He estimated that more than 100 firefighters and police officers were involved in the response.
Five people were injured, including four firefighters, Kelly said. Their injuries were not considered “critical,” but were still being evaluated, he said. Several businesses on the southern end of the fire were damaged. The extent of the damage was not yet clear.
Thick black smoke that rose from the fire near 84th Avenue and Huron Street created a hazard for drivers, Thornton police said in announcing the fire on X. The interstate closure affected both directions between Thornton Parkway and 84th Avenue.
Several other roads were also closed, and could remain off-limits to drivers as crews continue to monitor for hot spots and ensure the fire doesn’t rekindle overnight.
Wind gusts were near 40 mph in the area. A red-flag warning for high winds and fire danger was in place until 6 p.m. Similar warnings are in place for the eastern half of the state Thursday.
Pinnacle High School, 8412 Huron St., was evacuated. “It is our understanding school will be in session tomorrow,” Kelly said.
Police went door to door in a neighborhood to the north of the fire ordering residents to leave. Authorities set up a formal shelter at Margaret Carpenter Recreation Center, 11151 Colorado Blvd., after previously directing people to seek safer ground at Water World.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.