Marshall Fire Initial Attack Mass Evacuations 2021

The Marshall Fire began as a wildland fire, but it quickly moved into structures. Driven by wind gusts of up to 115 miles per hour, it swept through subdivisions and commercial buildings in the communities of Louisville and Superior, Colorado, and over a six-lane highway. Firebrands and flaming debris were carried ½ mile in front of the main fire. Firefighters, law enforcement officers, utility crews and volunteers worked inside the smoky fire perimeter, sometimes in piecemeal safety gear. Helmets and eye protection were stripped off by the wind, doors were bent back, and rocks, wood and sheet metal shattered the glass in emergency vehicles. Responding emergency personnel worked to battle the flames and evacuate about 35,000 people from the area, including hospitals and care facilities.

View the StoryMap here: Marshall Fire (arcgis.com)

Large Fire, Initial Attack, Engines, Fire Behavior