NCAR fire evacuations scaled back in Boulder as winds die down and ease threat to neighborhoods

By:  Mind ved

At wildfire’s peak, more than 19,000 people in south Boulder, Eldorado Springs were ordered to evacuate

Firefighters in the air and on the ground battled a 122-acre wildfire Saturday that broke out near the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder

threatening neighborhoods on the southwestern edge of the city and forcing thousands of people to evacuate.

destroyed more than 1,000 homes in Boulder County, had not burned any structures or led to any injuries by Saturday night, authorities said.

Firefighters had not achieved any containment of what has been named the NCAR fire, but by nightfall expressed optimism.

Officials scaled back evacuations after 11 p.m., allowing residents in parts of south Boulder and unincorporated Boulder County back into their homes.

Boulder Fire-Rescue spokeswoman Marya Washburn told the Daily Camera that about 1,600 to 1,900 homes remained in the evacuation area, down from 8,000 homes.

Colorado 93 was closed in the late afternoon in both directions from Colorado 128, near Superior, to Marshall Road because of the fire, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.