Residents Temporarily Return To Homes Within Cold Springs Fire Boundary

BOULDER COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) - Evacuees of the Cold Springs Fire will be allowed to return to their homes temporarily Wednesday morning, while others have returned permanently.

Tuesday, nearly half of the 2,000 people evacuated around Nederland were able to return home for good as firefighters reached 25 percent containment.

However, 65 homes remain within the fire perimeter. These residents will have temporary access on Wednesday in order to collect personal belongings. Two waves of access will be given, from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. for those living south, and from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. for those living north.

Residents will be allowed to go inside the perimeter for two hours to inspect their property, get rid of spoiled food, and retrieve personal items.

A photo of flames burning just behind Annie and John's home has become synonymous with the Cold Springs Fire. CBS4's Jamie Leary joined them as they temporarily returned home Wednesday morning for the first time since evacuating.

The fire had come within 100 yards of the home, but they found their house intact. So began cleaning out the refrigerator.

A total of eight homes have been lost to the Cold Springs Fire, which began burning Saturday after two transients failed to properly extinguish a campfire.

More detailed mapping has showed that 528 acres have burned, a little less than the originally reported number.

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