Cars damaged in Thornton vegetation fire

Four firefighters and a resident were injured in a vegetation fire that led to the evacuation of homes, businesses and a high school in Thornton on Wednesday afternoon, the Thornton Fire Department said.

Fire Chief Steve Kelley said the fire started around 11:30 a.m. in the area of 84th Avenue and Huron Street, north of Pinnacle School. A large plume of smoke from the fire was visible across the north Denver metro area.

“Today, we face red flag conditions with significant and extremely dry conditions,” Kelley said during an afternoon news conference, describing the weather that contributed to the fire’s rapid spread.

Wind gusts were reported up to 50 mph. The flames pushed east through an open field bordered by homes on one side and businesses on the other, creating towering plumes of black smoke visible across the Denver metro area.

Kelley said about 100 to 150 firefighters from multiple agencies responded to the fire, which burned about 10 acres.

Dan Gable, who has lived in the neighborhood for 61 years, said he first noticed the smoke shortly after finishing a run, then watched it rapidly grow bigger.

"A lot of black smoke billowing up. A lot of strong wind at the time," Gable said. "[The flames] were probably 60 feet into the air."

Across the field at Rol Race Motorsports, Jason Rol and Joseph Dovilla were working on cars when the fire reached their property.

“Car after car, just on fire. As soon as the flames hit, it engulfed the cars,” Dovilla said.

Thornton police said around 2 p.m. that the fire was contained, and firefighters were working to cool hot spots.

Kelley said none of the five people injured were critical.

He also said no residential structures were damaged or burned. Some businesses along the south side of the fire sustained damage, Kelley said. Investigators are still working to determine the extent of the damage, and whether any buildings were damaged.

Police said Pinnacle High School, nearby businesses and neighborhoods to the northeast were evacuated.

Residents who opted in to CodeRed did not receive text evacuation alerts because Thornton is transitioning to a new notification system called Rave. Police say they chose not to reach out to the state to issue a text alert for the area, after personnel on scene felt confident they had notified everyone who needed to leave by going door to door.