Some Evacuation Orders Lifted, 8 Homes Burned In Cold Springs Fire
NEDERLAND, Colo. (CBS4) - Some evacuation orders have been lifted for those residents forced from their homes in the Cold Springs Fire as crews worked toward containment on Tuesday.
Evacuation orders have been lifted for more than 800 people in the Sugarloaf and the Magnolia areas. That is more than one-third of the residents evacuated in Boulder County.
All evacuated residents south of fire in the Hurricane Hill area can return home from 7 a.m. through 9 a.m. Wednesday morning to gather belongings. Residents north of fire on Cold Springs Road can return Wednesday from 9 a.m. through 11 a.m.
The incident commander of the fire said better mapping has given them a more accurate picture of the size of the fire. The acres burned have dropped from 606 to 566.
Containment of the fire was expected to be at 25 percent at then end of the evening Tuesday.
PHOTO GALLERY: Cold Springs Fire
Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle said he expects all residents will be able return home in "days, not weeks." He expects all power to be back on shortly afterwards.
The fire has burned eight homes and three outbuildings. Firefighters say structure protection is the number one priority in fighting the fire.
Some evacuees have been living at Nederland High School since the fire started on Saturday. The Red Cross is providing personal hygiene items along with food and shelter.
The school is also providing shelter for exhausted firefighters.
Don Patterson from Berthoud has been battling the fire for three days. He said the resources made available to the crews have been amazing.
"We can't do it without everyone else doing what they're doing, the people of Nederland have been great, the Type Two team has been great. Depending on the incident sometimes we don't have all these types of resources because of where the incident might be," said Patterson.
The postal service has not been able to make deliveries to about 500 addresses out of Nederland. Due to road closures and the fire, mail for many addresses will be held at the Nederland Post Office, located at 350 East St.
Residents who want to pick up their mail should bring an ID to the post office between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
LINKS: Boulder Office of Emergency Management Fire Updates |Cold Springs Fire Relief Fund
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