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Brush Fires Break Out In Boulder County

BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) - The second of two brush fires that broke out in Boulder County on Wednesday prompted voluntary evacuations near Lyons.

Rick Brough with the Boulder County Sheriff's Department said the fire was burning east of Lyons in the 900 block of Stone Canyon Road. The fire was initially estimated at about two acres around 6 p.m., but high winds fueled the fire and it grew to about 20 acres.

Around 7:30 p.m. officials said the fire was contained. Firefighters were still on scene Wednesday night working on hot spots.

Brough said there were structures about 1/4 mile away from the fire and there weren't a lot of roads leading in or out of the area, so evacuations were requested using the Everbridge notification system to 42 phone numbers.

Approximately 15 families evacuated and were asked to go to Lyons High School.

An earlier brush fire that broke out in Boulder County forced officials to request volunteer evacuations, but they have since been cancelled.

The Boulder County Sheriff's Office said firefighters responded to the brush fire between 63rd Avenue and Diagonal Highway. The fire later jumped Diagonal Highway.

Brush map
(credit: CBS)

At one point the fire was about 10 acres but it was fueled by strong wind and Kim Kobel with Boulder police believes it had grown. At 5 p.m. Kobel said the west and north sides of the fire were knocked down and firefighters were spraying down hot spots.

The boundaries of the volunteer evacuation request were Diagonal Highway east to 79th and Lookout north to Highway 52. A reverse 911 call went out to homes in that area.

The Boulder Office of Emergency Management was activated.

Smoke from the fire affected traffic in the area. Both directions of CO Highway 119 at 63rd Avenue had to be closed.

Officials believe downed power lines from the strong wind caused the fire.

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