At least one fatality reported amid raging Colorado wildfires
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The Alexander Mountain fire west of Loveland. Photo: Courtesy of the National Forest Service
Four Front Range wildfires are exploding as of Wednesday across a dry landscape, with one turning fatal.
The latest: One person was found dead in a home burned by the Stone Canyon fire outside Lyons, Boulder County sheriff Curtis Johnson said Wednesday.
- As many as five homes have been burned in the blaze, which has consumed at least 1,548 acres and is 0% contained. Evaluation orders remain in place for some parts of Lyons and Larimer County.
- Johnson said he is not aware of any other missing person reports as of now. Officials are investigating the cause of the wildfire and asking the community for tips.
The big picture: At least 12 wildfires are burning roughly 10,200 acres in the state right now, most of which are located in southwestern Colorado.
Zoom in: The largest blaze underway is the Alexander Mountain fire west of Loveland, which has spread to about 6,800 acres and prompted evacuation orders. 250 firefighters are on scene.
- Closer to Denver, the Quarry fire prompted evacuation orders for 575 homes in Jefferson County overnight and into Wednesday, Jefferson County sheriff's spokesperson Mark Techmeyer said Wednesday morning.
- The fire is roughly 200 acres and growing, with 0% containment. There have been no reported injuries, and its cause remains unclear.
- To help combat the flames, planes are pulling water from the Chatfield Reservoir at Chatfield State Park, which has been closed indefinitely for boating while firefighting operations are underway.
- A fourth wildfire near Gross Reservoir in Boulder County that broke out Wednesday afternoon also resulted in evacuation orders for the Lake Shore Park neighborhood.
State of play: FEMA is covering 75% of the response for the Alexander and Stone Canyon fires.
- Numerous other local agencies have also been deployed. That includes the Denver Fire Department, which has 30 firefighters in the field, agency spokesperson JD Chism told us Wednesday.
Between the lines: Earlier this year, fire officials forecasted a "normal" fire year in Colorado through July, but cautioned that "normal does not mean no fires."
By the numbers: In an average year, Colorado sees 5,500 wildfires that burn roughly 220,000 acres, or 344 square miles.
What they're saying: "Resources are thin," Techmeyer said Wednesday morning.
- In addition to fire hazards, Techmeyer said rattlesnakes in the area pose a risk to emergency personnel.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with new details throughout.