Ablaze in Boulder

BOULDER, Colo. — Firefighters made progress Sunday in battling a wildfire that forced people to flee hundreds of homes in the mountains just outside downtown Boulder and ignited dead trees that exploded into black plumes of smoke, authorities and residents said.

Wind was pushing the flames in the wooded area a couple of miles west of Pearl St., the shopping and dining hub in the heart of the university city. Crews partially contained the fire that had burned just over 60 acres, but officials worried that expected stronger gusts expected could fan the flames.

The Boulder Office of Emergency Management said 426 homes were evacuated before dawn and residents of an additional 836 were warned to get ready to leave if conditions worsened.

There were no reports of injuries or damage to homes, emergency officials said. Several aircraft were dropping water and retardant on the flames, and a community center opened as a shelter.

The fire started in the Sunshine Canyon area, which is dotted with expensive homes and rustic mountain residences.

Boulder County Sheriff’s Cmdr. Mike Wagner said the area is used by hikers and by transients for camping, leading authorities to believe the blaze was caused by people. Officials ruled out lightning strikes or downed power lines.