Four Mile Canyon Fire Scanner Updates

Winds estimated at 10-20 mph out of the NE until sunset, then switching to SW.

2:15 p.m. - Sept. 6, 2010: A media briefing will be held at 3:15 p.m. at the Boulder County Justice Center, 6th & Canyon Boulevard.

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2:05 p.m. - Sept. 6, 2010: The evacuation zone at this time is from Bald Mountain north to Lefthand Canyon, east to County Road 83, south along Sunshine Canyon to Hwy 119/City of Boulder limits. The fire is believed to have originated in Emerson Gulch. No cause has been determined.

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2 p.m. - Sept. 6, 2010: Firefighters closest to the scene are reporting that about 200 acres are affected at this time, and the fire is threatening about 100 structures. They are especially focused on evacuating homes in Mountain Meadows and Mountain Pines at this time. Dispatch has used the emergency alert system to contact more than 2,500 phone numbers to notify residents of the situation and evacuation requests. A third evacuation center has been opened at New Vista High School at 20th and Baseline Road in Boulder.

3:15 p.m. - Sept. 6, 2010: The Humane Society of Boulder Valley is providing temporary shelter to dogs, cats and small mammals displaced from their homes due to the Fourmile Canyon Wildfire. Staff will be at the shelter at 2323 55th St. in Boulder until 5 p.m. to meet families and take in animals. After 5 p.m., pet owners should contact dispatch at 303-441-3333 to make arrangements for an animal care and control officer to meet them at the shelter. More information about small animal care and shelter during this emergency is available at [url=http://www.boulderhumane.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;]www.boulderhumane.org[/url].

Vicinity Map

3:30 p.m. - Sept. 6, 2010: The Fourmile Canyon wildfire is now estimated at 2,200 acres. Two air tankers are on standby at Rocky Mountain Regional Airport, but because of wind conditions, they cannot take off at this time. Residents are being asked to stay out of the area so that fire crews and equipment can continue to make their way to the fire.

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3:25 p.m. - Sept. 6, 2010: The evacuation area has been expanded to include several hundred homes in Boulder Heights and Pine Brook Hills. Additional road closures have been ordered to include Linden Drive, west of the city limit, and Lee Hill at Wagon Wheel Gap and Lefthand at Lee Hill Drive.

Everything from Sunshine Canyon west to the peak to peak highway should be evacuated.

3:55 p.m. - The Longmont Humane Society at 9595 Nelson Road in Longmont has opened and is also accepting small animals: dogs, cats and other small mammals.

Reports of explosions in the Mountain Meadow area.

4:10 p.m. - Sept. 6, 2010: Additional mandatory evacuations have been ordered for Sugarloaf Mountain, Boulder Heights and Pine Brook Hills. These mandatory evacuations join the previous ones within the original area of Bald Mountain north to Lefthand Canyon, east to County Road 83, south along Sunshine Canyon to Hwy 119/City of Boulder limits.

4:15 p.m. - Sept. 6, 2010:Boulder County Public Health has issued the following advisory: Smoke from wildfires is a mixture of gases and fine particles from burning trees and other plant materials. Smoke can hurt your eyes, irritate your respiratory system, and worsen chronic heart and lung diseases. When smoke levels are high enough, even healthy people may experience some of these symptoms. Keep windows and doors closed, unless it is extremely hot outside. Run an air conditioner if you have one, but keep the fresh-air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent outdoor smoke from getting inside. If you do not have an air conditioner and it is too warm to stay inside with the windows closed, seek shelter elsewhere.