Boulder Fourmile Canyon fire update: 5 locals still missing, including 1 who refused to evacuate

A couple small bits of good news from the scene of the Fourmile Canyon fire near Boulder. While media outlets like 9News are currently reporting that eight people remain missing in the area, Boulder County Sheriff's Department spokesman Commander Rick Brough confirms that number has fallen to five. Likewise, the...

By Michael Roberts

September 8, 2010

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A couple small bits of good news from the scene of the Fourmile Canyon fire near Boulder. While media outlets like 9News are currently reporting that eight people remain missing in the area, Boulder County Sheriff's Department spokesman Commander Rick Brough confirms that number has fallen to five. Likewise, the amount of acreage engulfed has been revised downward, from 7,100 to 6,138. But, as Brough says, "It's still uncontained."

The number of folks reported missing, which once stood at twenty, stems from "calls we're getting -- family or friends, usually, who haven't heard from people."

Of the five for whom the BCSO hasn't been able to account, Brough says, "two of them live in the evacuation area, but outside the burn area. They're not in the area where the fire has been. And one of them, I know, is somebody who refused to be evacuated." Authorities are currently trying to track down all five in the hope that they're simply experiencing communication issues. In Brough's words, "we're following up now."

The change in the scope of the fire comes as the result of "us doing a flyover with infrared. It's more scientific and gives us better measurements," Brough says, adding that, right now, fire crews are "trying to hold the perimeter" in order to make sure the blaze doesn't grow.

The number of structures burned is also in flux, and Brough doesn't expect an update until this evening. The widely reported number of 92 structures destroyed is based on what he calls "a quick count. But we have 54 actual confirmations, where deputies have been able to stop and get the actual numbers."

In other words, the damage could conceivably be less than is currently believed. And while that's unlikely, maintaining hope in a situation like this one is absolutely vital, whether it applies to people, places or things.

Page down to see the addresses of confirmed structures destroyed courtesy of the Boulder Office of Emergency Management:

Street or Road Street #

Dixon 515

Dixon 698

Dixon 997

Dixon 1270

Emerson Gulch Rd. 560

Emerson Gulch Rd. 756

Emerson Gulch Rd. 1059

Emerson Gulch Rd. 100-B

Fourmile Canyon 6060

Fourmile Canyon 6130

Melvina Hill Rd. 450

Melvina Hill Rd. 589

Melvina Hill Rd. 611

Melvina Hill Rd. 805

Melvina Hill Rd. 849

Melvina Hill Rd. 1005

Melvina Hill Rd. 1081

Melvina Hill Rd. 1103

Melvina Hill Rd. 1112

Melvina Hill Rd. 1403

Melvina Hill Rd. 1446

Nancy Mine Rd. 280

Nancy Mine Rd. 833

Nancy Mine Rd. 959-B

Sunshine Canyon Rd. 5387

Sunshine Canyon Rd. 5546

Sunshine Canyon Rd. 5595

Sunshine Canyon Rd. 5657

Sunshine Canyon Rd. 5695

Sunshine Canyon Rd. 5779

Sunshine Canyon Rd. 5810

Sunshine Canyon Rd. 5841

Sunshine Canyon Rd. 5847

Sunshine Canyon Rd. 5860

Sunshine Canyon Rd. 5879

Sunshine Canyon Rd. 5881

Sunshine Canyon Rd. 6095

Sunshine Canyon Rd. 6101

Sunshine Canyon Rd. 6138

Sunshine Canyon Rd. 6191

Sunshine Canyon Rd. 6297

Sunshine Canyon Rd. 6299

Sunshine Canyon Rd. 6301

Sunshine Canyon Rd. 6305

Sunshine Canyon Rd. 6309

Sunshine Canyon Rd. 6317

Sunshine Canyon Rd. 6319

Sunshine Canyon Rd. 6601

Sunshine Canyon Rd. 6801

Sunshine Canyon Rd. 6927

Sunshine Canyon Rd. 6927

Sunshine Canyon Rd. 7875

Sunshine Canyon Rd. 7878

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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