Duo of Wildfires Prompt Evacuations in California, Colorado; Two Structures Destroyed Near Nederland

Andrew MacFarlane
Published: July 10,2016
A pair of wildfires burning in both California and Colorado have forced evacuations and left one firefighter injured Saturday evening, burning a combined 1,000 acres.
In California, some 2,000 people had to flee their Santa Clarita Valley homes as the fast-moving wildfire grew closer, according to the Associated Press.
The blaze was sparked in the Stevenson Ranch area, about 35 miles north of Los Angeles, around noon local time before quickly growing to 1.25 square miles in just hours, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said.
(More: Alberta Wildfires Were Costliest Disaster in Canadian History)

(L.A. County Fire Department Public Info Desk)

Over 200 firefighters were deployed to fight the blaze with help from water-dropping aircraft as they attempted to create a perimeter around threatened homes.
One firefighter suffered a minor injury during the battle, according to the LA County Fire PIO.
"We are having to battle with Mother Nature," said fire Captain Roland Sprewell. "The winds are blowing and the terrain is challenging. The firefighters are in dense, heavy brush, and after a five-year drought, all this vegetation is prime and ready to burn."
Wind gusts in the area were recorded around 25 mph, aiding the fire’s explosive growth.
Before nightfall, firefighters were able to contain around 15 percent of the fire, which was becoming dangerously close to Interstate 5.
"The flames were jumping in circles around our house," said Victor Roman.
(More: EF2 Tornado Hits Eureka, Kansas)
The residents of the nearly 750 homes evacuated were allowed to return to their homes late Saturday as firefighters were able to apprehend the blaze.
A second fire near Nederland, Colorado was sparked Saturday afternoon and consumed two structures and over 200 acres, according to the Denver Channel.
The Boulder Office of Emergency Management declared a local disaster declaration as mandatory evacuation orders were issued in the Nederland area. People in another 170 homes were put on notice to be ready to leave on a moment's notice.
More than 100 firefighters have been moved to battle the blaze, but the fire remains at zero percent containment, according to the Cold Springs Fire’s last update.
No injuries were sustained during the Nederland fire.

Widespread Fire Danger in the West Sunday

The potential for the spreading of existing and any new wildfires will remain high across much of the West on Sunday.
This is due to gusty winds impacting a large part of the region from a potent southward dip in the jet stream moving across the Northwest.
As a result, the National Weather Service has posted red flag warnings and fire weather watches for the fire danger in parts of many states from the High Plains South Dakota westward through the Rockies to Southern California.

Fire Weather Alerts

On Monday, the strong winds will keep wildfire danger high from portions of Arizona and New Mexico to Colorado, Wyoming and the High Plains of South Dakota and Nebraska.

PHOTOS: Western Wildfires in June 2016