Fire danger high across Colorado

DENVER, Colorado — Much of Colorado was at high risk for fires Tuesday, and the National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning in response to the high temperatures and extremely low humidities.

As if on cue several fires ignited across the metro area.

A brush fire broke out Tuesday morning near the dam in Cherry Creek State Park. The 1.9 acre blaze was quickly put out by South Metro Fire Department. The fire was apparently caused by two employees of the Split Rail Fence Company who were welding metal posts at a job site on the north side of the dam. A spark caught the grass on fire and the two men tried to put the blaze out with a fire extinguisher but it spread too quickly.

Another fire was reported around noon in a field in the 52000 block of East County Road 6 in Arapahoe County. By the time Strasburg and Bennett fire departments put it out, an estimated 25-35 acres had burned. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

A number of callers reported that several grass fires off of U.S. 36, in the Davidson Mesa area near Boulder, was started by someone tossing fireworks out a vehicle window Tuesday afternoon, around 5:17 p.m. The fireworks ignited three blazes, all which were quickly extinguished by Boulder fire officials. Almost two acres burned.

The Boulder County sheriff's office would like anyone who may have information on the vehicle or the suspects to call them at 303-441-4444.

About 50 firefighters from eight different fire agencies, including two wildland fire teams, in El Paso County were battling a field fire Tuesday night burning near Pinella Ranch, off Interstate 25 near mile marker 134. Three acres west of Fountain Creek were reported under control by Tuesday evening, while another two acres east of Fountain Creek were still burning.

"We expect containment within a couple of hours, said Michelle Parker, spokeswoman for Stratmoor Hills Fire Protection District. Cause of the blaze has yet to be determined.

Denver's high Tuesday was 93 degrees.

The fire danger for the metro Denver area Wednesday will diminish as lower temperatures are expected. Highs tomorrow will only be within the 66 to 72 degree rain, with no winds. Nighttime lows will be in the lower 40s, with a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms.

However, the Pueblo and southern parts of the state will be under a red flag watch Wednesday, with highs expected to be between 82 to 87 degrees, with southwest winds 15-25 mph, with gusts up to 45 mph.


CBS4 News contributed to this report.