People in the suburbs of Denver, Colorado, are starting the year with a bizarre, tragic sight: snow-covered roads in Boulder County running through residential areas where the homes have been abandoned and destroyed. On Thursday, Dec. 30, an out-of-control fire started burning and quickly blew through the nearby towns of Superior and Louisville. The threat presented by the massive blaze forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate; so far, the flames have destroyed more than 1,000 houses and injured at least seven people. Three people were reported missing and are feared to have died in the fires.
The origins of the fire are still unknown, though authorities appear to have suspicions. Some have reported that the flames were the result of downed power lines, but the Boulder Office of Emergency Management says that is unlikely. According to USA Today, local authorities are investigating the cause and have a search warrant for a home in a neighborhood to the west of the towns that were destroyed by the fires. Videos submitted by tipsters and local residents reportedly show a shed burning nearby, though it is not clear if that’s the point of origin for the uncontrolled burn or if it is unrelated.
