Colorado fire: 2 people missing after nearly 1,000 homes destroyed, sheriff says
BOULDER COUNTY, Colo. – Officials said Sunday that two people remained missing after the Marshall Fire burned through thousands of acres in Boulder County, destroying nearly 1,000 homes and damaging more than 125 other buildings.
Update 9:45 p.m. EST Jan. 2: Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle confirmed during a Sunday press briefing that one person who had been reported as missing on Saturday was accounted for and unharmed, Reuters reported.
Pelle also confirmed that the two missing people, who have not been identified publicly, lived in homes that were consumed by the blaze.
Original report: Two people were missing in the Superior area while one was missing in the Marshall area, Sheriff Joe Pelle said at a news conference.
“We unfortunately believe these are going to turn into recovery cases,” he said, adding that cadaver dogs and search teams will aid the search Sunday.
“The structures where these folks would be are completely destroyed and covered with about eight inches of snow right now, so our ability to be able to attempt to search and recover from those structures is very much impeded. … We hope that within the next couple days we can help families and perhaps recover remains or confirm that they’re not there.”
Another person who was reported missing Friday has since been found, Pelle said.
>> Related: At least 500 homes destroyed by Colorado wildfires
The Marshal Fire sparked Thursday and has since burned through more than 6,000 acres.
“Fortunately, with the snow overnight we had tremendous progress extinguishing the fire,” Pelle said, adding that the number of burned acres remained steady between Friday and Saturday.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, which remained unclear Saturday. Pelle said officials are investigating several reports of downed powerlines in the area, though as of Saturday afternoon they had found “no credible evidence of a powerline down in that area.”
“We did find telecom lines down in that area, which could have caused reports of downed lines, but which would not have caused the fire,” he said. “I don’t have any hard or credible evidence – I don’t have probable cause to understand what caused it, the fire. As soon as we have credible, hard information, we will be releasing it.”
Deputies are working with state and federal officials as part of their investigation.
The sheriff said Saturday that officials are prioritizing getting people back into their homes. Some residents in parts of Superior and Louisville that had been under soft closure orders were allowed to return to their homes Saturday.
Louisville Police Chief Dave Hayes warned returning residents to be vigilant for potential hazards, such as damaged trees. He asked that residents slow their speeds and drive only during the day.
“Please be prepared to see your communities change in ways you did not expect and take some time if you need it,” he said.
Snow covers the burned remains of a shopping center after wildfires ravaged the area Sunday, Jan.2, 2022, in Superior, Colo. Investigators are still trying to determine what sparked a massive fire in a suburban area near Denver that burned neighborhoods to the ground and destroyed nearly 1,000 homes and other buildings. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Snow covers the burned remains of a car after wildfires ravaged the area Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Superior, Colo. Investigators are still trying to determine what sparked a massive fire in a suburban area near Denver that burned neighborhoods to the ground and destroyed nearly 1,000 homes and other buildings. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Neighbors hug while bringing heaters and valuables back to their homes in Superior, Colo., on Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, which were spared by the Marshall wildfire. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
A burned truck in a destroyed neighborhood in Louisville, Colo., on Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022. Search teams looked for two missing people on Sunday in the snow-covered but still smoldering debris from a massive Colorado wildfire, while people who barely escaped the flames sorted through what was left after the blaze and investigators tried to determine its cause. (AP Photo/Thomas Peipert)
The Payanna family brings valuables back to their home that was spared by the Marshall Fire, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Superior, Colo. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Snow covers the burned remains of homes after wildfires ravaged the area Sunday, Jan.2, 2022, in Superior, Colo. Investigators are still trying to determine what sparked a massive fire in a suburban area near Denver that burned neighborhoods to the ground and destroyed nearly 1,000 homes and other buildings. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
A woman brings a heater back to her home after the Marshall Fire, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Superior, Colo. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Snow covers the burned remains of a car after wildfires ravaged the area Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Superior, Colo. Investigators are still trying to determine what sparked a massive fire in a suburban area near Denver that burned neighborhoods to the ground and destroyed nearly 1,000 homes and other buildings. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
A police officer talks to residents trying to get back to their home after the Marshall Fire damaged property in the area, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Superior, Colo. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Snow covers the smoke damaged shopping center after wildfires ravaged the area Sunday, Jan.2, 2022, in Superior, Colo. Investigators are still trying to determine what sparked a massive fire in a suburban area near Denver that burned neighborhoods to the ground and destroyed nearly 1,000 homes and other buildings. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Colorado National Guard members secure locations burned by wildfire Sunday, Jan.2, 2022, in Superior, Colo. Investigators are still trying to determine what sparked a massive fire in a suburban area near Denver that burned neighborhoods to the ground and destroyed nearly 1,000 homes and other buildings. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Surrounded by local and state officials, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis talks during a news conference updating the Colorado wildfire damage after touring the impacted area Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
