Marshall Fire Explained

Cost:>$2 billion[1]
Structures:1,084
Area:6,026 acres (24.4 km2)
Injuries:6+
Fatalities:2
Marshall Fire

The Marshall Fire was a destructive wildfire and urban conflagration that started on December 30, 2021, shortly after 11:00 a.m. MST,[2] as a grass fire in Boulder County, Colorado.[3] The fire killed two people and destroyed more than 991 structures to become the most destructive fire in Colorado history.[4] It began in two places and was neither caused by criminal negligence nor intentional. As a result of the fire 37,500 people were evacuated.

Ignition and Progression

Background

An unusually wet spring with above average growth of grass due to moist conditions, followed by an unusually warm and dry summer and fall, created abundant dry grass. This, combined with the lack of snow so far that winter, created ideal weather conditions for wildfires.[5] [6] [7]

Additionally, high winds were recorded in the area, with gusts of up to 115mph. The winds were driven by the mountain wave effect, and allowed for rapid spread of the fire.[8] Effects of the high winds were also observed on the University of Colorado Boulder campus, where downed branches and trees were reported.

Cause

In June 2023, Boulder County Sheriff Curtis Johnson announced that the fire's causes had been found. He said that the fire was caused by two separate occurrences: "week-old embers on Twelve Tribes property and a sparking Xcel Energy power line," adding that negligence and intent had been ruled out and no criminal charges were expected.[9] This determination came after a lengthy investigation in which multiple alternatives were considered.[10] [11] The possibility of drift mines causing the fire was ruled out.[12] [13] Xcel Energy has faced more than 200 lawsuits filed by victims of the fire.[14]

Progression

The Marshall Fire was first reported to 911 on 30 December 2021 at the intersection of Colorado 93 and Marshall Road at 11:09 a.m.[15] The first firefighting unit, Mountain View Fire and Rescue engine 2209, arrived on scene at 11:12 a.m. Boulder Open Space Ranger 5077 was already there. No fire was evident when they arrived, but a low hanging wire obstructed Marshall Road. Together, they closed Marshall Road. Then seeing smoke, Engine 2209 moved south along a dirt road and discovered a small grass fire at 11:21 a.m. Once the fire location was identified by the unit, high winds started to rapidly spread the fire. Three minutes after finding the fire, it was determined out of control and additional units were called to assist. At 11:44 a.m. the commander on site ordered the evacuation of residents 2miles downwind of the fire. By noon the fire had reached the town of Superior, 3miles to the east, prompting the evacuation of stores there.[16] Within another hour evacuations had been ordered for tens of thousands of people starting with the town of Superior and later the cities of Louisville, portions of Broomfield, and unincorporated Boulder County.[17] Other portions of Broomfield, along with portions of Lafayette, Arvada, and Westminster were issued pre-evacuation orders.[18]

Wind gusts of 115mph were reported,[19] and the fire extent was an estimated by 5:00 p.m. and had increased to by 10:00 a.m. on December 31.[20]

On the night of December 31–January 1, heavy snowfall put an end to the fire.[21]

Effects

In response to the fires, Governor Jared Polis declared a state of emergency around 3:15 p.m. on the day of the outbreak and ordered a ground delay at Denver International Airport.[22] U.S. president Joe Biden responded to the fire by permitting the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assist.[23] For those affected by the fires, Colorado Chamber President and CEO Loren Furman announced that the Colorado Chamber was united to help members and all local businesses and residents impacted by the fire. The Northwest Chamber Alliance created a website that centralized resources for businesses for federal and state aid, local resources, and donation information.[24]

Casualties

Eight burn injuries were confirmed in Boulder County. [25] Two people were killed.[26] [27] [28] Over 1,000 pets are estimated to have perished, as well as two horses, two goats and nine cows. Even though much of the land burned was grazing land, rescuers saved hundreds of other livestock.[29]

Evacuations and closures

Over 37,500 residents, employees and shoppers safely evacuated. Ten evacuation notices were posted by Boulder County during the event.[30] The results from a questionnaire study indicate that almost 70% of the householders in the area decided to evacuate.[31] The Colorado Department of Transportation closed multiple lanes and roadways as a result of crashes and the fires themselves; U.S. Route 36 was closed in both directions from Boulder to Broomfield and a portion of Colorado State Highway 470 was closed entirely near Morrison. Safety warnings were also issued for travelers on a stretch of Interstate 70 between Golden and Georgetown and Colorado State Highway 93 was temporarily closed for 40 minutes in the late morning.

Damage

An estimated 1,084 structures, including houses, a hotel and at least one shopping center, burned as a result of the Marshall Fire, and another 149 were damaged.[32] [33] Less than 12 hours after igniting, the fire surpassed the 2013 Black Forest Fire as the state's most destructive in terms of structures lost. Later estimates place the total damage surpassing $2 billion.[34]

Public drinking water systems

The fire damaged six public drinking water systems in the area. A case study was developed to better understand decisions, resources, expertise, and response limitations during and after the wildfire.[35] The fire caused all water systems to lose power and was sometimes coupled with structure destruction, distribution depressurization, and the failure of backup power systems. These consequences jeopardized fire-fighting support and allowed for contamination of water distribution systems. Staff decontaminated and restored services, with actions taken to improve response to future events.

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Marshall Fire damage estimate now tops $2 billion . Oct 27, 2022 . . June 5, 2023 . October 28, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221028065445/https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/marshall-fire-damage-estimate-2-billion/ . live .
  2. Web site: Colorado brushfires lead to evacuations; state of emergency declared . . December 31, 2021 . December 30, 2021 . December 31, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211231014810/https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/colorado-brushfires-lead-to-evacuations-state-of-emergency-declared . live .
  3. News: CU President and officials give update on Marshall and Middle Fork fires . 2021-12-31 . CU Independent . January 1, 2022 . January 1, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220101130642/https://www.cuindependent.com/2021/12/31/marshall-and-middle-fork-fires-update/ . live .
  4. News: Marshall fire officially becomes Colorado's most destructive, with 991 homes and businesses burned, officials confirm . 31 March 2022 . 1 January 2022 . September 20, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220920093621/https://coloradosun.com/2022/01/01/marshall-fire-snow-displaced-residents-power-outage/ . live .
  5. Web site: 2022-01-02. Climate change, new construction mean more ruinous fires. 2022-01-03. RochesterFirst. en-US. January 2, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220102183421/https://www.rochesterfirst.com/news/climate-change-new-construction-mean-more-ruinous-fires/. live.
  6. Web site: Bellisle. Martha. 2022-01-02. Climate change, new construction mean more ruinous fires. live. 2022-01-02. AP News. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20220102053857/https://apnews.com/article/climate-wildfires-science-environment-environment-and-nature-8d111d6f6dfa9bfa78a2fe9659802826 . January 2, 2022 .
  7. Web site: Hern. Elizabeth. Ehern. Ez . 2021-12-31. Marshall fire may have destroyed 1,000 homes in Boulder County, officials say. 2022-01-02. The Denver Post. en-US. January 2, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220102183344/https://www.denverpost.com/2021/12/31/marshall-fire-boulder-county-friday/. live.
  8. Web site: Marshall fire explained: How we got 115 mph winds in Boulder County on a December winter day . 2021-12-31 . Stein . Lee . . January 3, 2022 . January 3, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220103003912/https://www.denverpost.com/2021/12/31/marshall-fire-explained-firestorm-colorado-weather/ . live .
  9. News: Phillips . Noelle . Bradybury . Shelly . 8 June 2023 . Marshall fire started by week-old embers on Twelve Tribes property and a sparking Xcel power line, Boulder sheriff says . . live . 9 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230609234534/https://www.denverpost.com/2023/06/08/marshall-fire-cause-origina-investigation-boulder-colorado/?trk_msg=O1K1MJVVD1K4DA2P9369AMBJ88&trk_contact=0FEDRRT3AA0L3A2UJUMHN4PEAO&trk_sid=4S1I5EEO8C2VL8KP6FPPFQLH6G&trk_link=9R9D2L2ICUR457FL80K7A7GA00&utm_email=44050476F4AC34DEA43FD5A73D&g2i_eui=bWkFbZOGiBq3suuvODK8Wzuw3zVj4mUv&g2i_source=newsletter&lctg=44050476F4AC34DEA43FD5A73D&active=no . June 9, 2023.
  10. Web site: Marshall Fire . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230108190716/https://www.marshallfiremap.com/ . January 8, 2023 . 10 April 2023 . www.marshallfiremap.com.
  11. Web site: December 28, 2022 . Investigation into Marshall Fire shows multiple ignition points, sheriff says .
  12. Web site: 2022-01-22 . Marshall Fire investigators look at underground coal mines as possible cause . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220122073113/https://kdvr.com/news/local/marshall-fire-investigators-look-at-underground-coal-mines-as-possible-cause/ . January 22, 2022 . 2022-01-22 . FOX31 Denver . en-US . KDVR FOX31 22-01-21 Marshall coal mine.
  13. Web site: 2011-01-21 . Underground coal fire being investigated as a potential source of ignition in fast-moving, destructive Marshall Fire . 2022-01-22 . KUSA.com . en-US.
  14. Web site: 2024-01-12 . Xcel Energy faces nearly 300 lawsuits alleging utility company started Marshall fire . 2024-04-01 . The Denver Post . en-US.
  15. Web site: Marshall Fire Facilitated Learning Analysis. October 27, 2022. February 24, 2023. March 22, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230322025143/https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/83af63bd549b4b8ea7d42661531de512. live.
  16. Web site: 2022-01-06. The minute-by-minute story of the Marshall fire's wind-fueled tear through Boulder County. 2022-01-07. The Colorado Sun. en. January 7, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220107175821/https://coloradosun.com/2022/01/06/marshall-fire-boulder-county-timeline/. live.
  17. Web site: WATCH LIVE: Entire towns of Superior and Louisville ordered to evacuate due to multiple grass fires . December 30, 2021 . . December 31, 2021 . February 21, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230221010614/https://www.9news.com/article/weather/severe-weather/multiple-grass-fires-boulder-county/73-d98c59a1-480e-47cc-b2b3-8a82baca0a58 . live .
  18. Web site: Powell . Erin . Polis declares state of emergency for Boulder fires . . December 30, 2021 . December 30, 2021 . February 21, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230221034913/https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/wildfire/polis-state-emergency-boulder-fires/73-d0c14e23-90a5-44fd-943d-9f7d46a7188a . live .
  19. Web site: Tens of thousands of residents in Colorado told to evacuate due to wildfires driven by wind gusts as high as 115 mph . December 30, 2021 . . December 31, 2021 . January 1, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220101175131/https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/30/weather/colorado-wildfires/index.html . live .
  20. Web site: Hassan . Carma . Andes . Natalie . December 31, 2021 . Marshall Fire grew to 6,200 acres overnight, official says . . 31 December 2021 . January 1, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220101235414/https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/colorado-fires-update-12-31-2021/index.html . live .
  21. News: Sullivan. Becky. 2022-01-01. Snow puts out Colorado wildfires with 3 people missing and nearly 1,000 homes burned. en. NPR. 2022-01-02. February 5, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220205094307/https://www.npr.org/2022/01/01/1069639530/colorado-wildfire-missing. live.
  22. News: As many as 600 homes lost, 6 people injured as Marshall fire quickly spreads across Boulder County . December 30, 2021 . . Boulder, Colorado . January 1, 2022 . January 1, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220101071044/https://coloradosun.com/2021/12/30/boulder-grass-fire-evacuations/ . live .
  23. Web site: 2022-01-02. President Joe Biden Approves FEMA After Colorado Wildfires, 3 Presumed Dead. 2022-01-02. The Blast. en-US. January 2, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220102182637/https://theblast.com/152050/biden-approves-fema-for-colorado/. live.
  24. Web site: 2022-01-04. Colorado Chamber supports local businesses impacted by Marshall, Middle Fork Fire. 2022-01-06. FOX21 News Colorado. en-US. January 6, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220106173113/https://www.fox21news.com/news/colorado-chamber-supports-local-businesses-impacted-by-marshall-middle-fork-fire/. live.
  25. Web site: One of three people missing after Marshall fire is found alive . 2022-01-02 . Bradbury . Shelly . . January 3, 2022 . January 3, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220103022016/https://www.denverpost.com/2022/01/02/marshall-fire-louisville-superior/ . live .
  26. Web site: Case. Angela. January 5, 2022. Remains found in search for person missing in Marshall Fire. 2022-01-06. KUSA.com. en-US.
  27. Web site: Marshall Fire victim identified as 69-year-old man. January 7, 2022. January 8, 2022. January 8, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220108035510/https://kdvr.com/news/local/human-remains-found-in-boulder-county-fire-identified/. live.
  28. Web site: Identity of final person missing from Marshall fire confirmed as investigators uncover bone fragments. www.cpr.org. 22 January 2022. 25 May 2022. May 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220525155720/https://www.cpr.org/2022/01/19/identity-final-person-missing-marshall-fire-bone-fragments/. live.
  29. Web site: Marshall Fire Facilitated Learning Analysis. October 27, 2022. February 24, 2023. March 22, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230322025143/https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/83af63bd549b4b8ea7d42661531de512. live.
  30. Web site: Emergency Notifications from Boulder County Communications . February 25, 2023 . December 21, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221221142139/https://assets.bouldercounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/marshall-fire-emergency-notifications.pdf . live .
  31. Forrister . Ana . Kuligowski . Erica D. . Sun . Yuran . Yan . Xiang . Lovreglio . Ruggiero . Cova . Thomas J. . Zhao . Xilei . 2024-04-01 . Analyzing Risk Perception, Evacuation Decision and Delay Time: A Case Study of the 2021 Marshall Fire in Colorado . Travel Behaviour and Society . 35 . 100729 . 10.1016/j.tbs.2023.100729 . 2214-367X. free .
  32. Web site: Boulder County releases updated list of structures damaged and destroyed in the Marshall Fire. 2022-01-09. Boulder County. en-US. January 9, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220109205621/https://www.bouldercounty.org/news/boulder-county-releases-updated-list-of-structures-damaged-and-destroyed-in-the-marshall-fire/. live.
  33. Web site: Boulder County Sheriff releases preliminary list of structures damaged in the Marshall Fire. Boulder County Colorado. January 2, 2022. January 2, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220102002220/https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/COBOULDER/bulletins/303740d. live.
  34. Web site: Marshall Fire devastation cost: More than $2 billion. October 27, 2022. February 25, 2023. February 25, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230225210228/https://kdvr.com/news/boulder-wildfire-marshall-fire/marshall-fire-devastation-cost-more-than-2-billion/. live.
  35. Whelton . Andrew J. . Seidel . Chad . Wham . Brad P. . Fischer . Erica C. . Isaacson . Kristofer . Jankowski . Caroline . MacArthur . Nathan . McKenna . Elizabeth . Ley . Christian . The Marshall Fire: Scientific and policy needs for water system disaster response . AWWA Water Science . en . 10.1002/aws2.1318 . January 2023 . 5 . 1 . 257206725 . free . 2023AWWWS...5E1318W .

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