Colorado Fire Prompts More Than 1,000 Evacuation Warnings

The fire was 20 percent contained.
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A wildfire that broke out near Boulder, Colorado, early Sunday morning, prompting officials to send out at least 1,000 evacuation warning calls as the blaze moves within a mile of downtown.

Deemed the Sunshine Fire, the blaze covers an estimated 62 acres of land in Colorado’s Sunshine Valley west of Boulder since breaking out early Sunday morning, the local Office of Emergency Management said. As of 2:30 p.m. local time, the fire was 20 percent contained.

So far, no deaths or injuries have been reported and no homes or structures have been affected.

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) authorized the Colorado National Guard to assist Boulder County officials in dropping thousands of gallons of water and fire retardant on the affected area.

Firefighters may be faced with an uphill battle later this afternoon when winds are expected to increase to gusts of 40 miles per hour, but officials are confident weather will not be too much of a hindrance.

“We’re going to continue to fight the fire predominantly from the air as much as we possibly can and leverage the really good weather that we’ve had,” Boulder sheriff’s department public information officer Mike Wagner said this morning. “The winds are a little bit calmer than what we’ve expected and we’re hoping the conditions stay favorable from the forecast as the day goes on.”

See photos below of the Sunshine Fire:

Fire crews fight a wildfire from the air in Sunshine Canyon.
Fire crews fight a wildfire from the air in Sunshine Canyon.
RJ Sangosti via Getty Images
Fire crews work a wildfire in Sunshine Canyon.
Fire crews work a wildfire in Sunshine Canyon.
RJ Sangosti via Getty Images
People gather to watch as fire crews work.
People gather to watch as fire crews work.
RJ Sangosti via Getty Images
Fire crews work at extinguishing the wildfire in Sunshine Canyon.
Fire crews work at extinguishing the wildfire in Sunshine Canyon.
RJ Sangosti via Getty Images
The wildfire threatens Boulder.
The wildfire threatens Boulder.
Joe Amon via Getty Images
Smoke covers Boulder as a wildfire burns near Sunshine Canyon.
Smoke covers Boulder as a wildfire burns near Sunshine Canyon.
RJ Sangosti via Getty Images
People gather to watch fire crews.
People gather to watch fire crews.
RJ Sangosti via Getty Images

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