Boulder County, CO. — On December 13, 2024, at approximately 2:15 PM, the Boulder County Communications Center received a report of a grass fire near State Highway 287 and Phillips Road. A neighboring property owner’s contractor observed a small fire, approximately 2x2 feet in size, while working on a fence and promptly called for assistance.

Mountain View Fire Rescue, Boulder Rural Fire Rescue, Lafayette Fire Department, Louisville Fire Department, Boulder County Sheriff’s Office Fire Management, and Boulder County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene. The fire was contained and extinguished, limiting the spread to approximately 100 square yards. The fire caused minimal damage, burning approximately $150 worth of lumber.

The investigation revealed that the fire originated on a nearby property where the owner had disposed of woodstove ashes in the field. Weather conditions contributed to the ignition and spread of the grass fire. As a result, the property owner was cited for Fourth Degree Arson under Boulder County Sheriff’s Office case number 24-06323.

The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind residents of the dangers of improperly disposing of ashes from woodstoves or fireplaces. Ashes can remain hot enough to ignite fires for several days. To prevent incidents like this, ashes should always be stored in a metal container with a tight-fitting lid and placed away from flammable materials, including grass, leaves, and structures.

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/s/ Vinnie Montez, Public Information Officer