UPDATE: 5:31 p.m. -- Crews from several fire agencies have fully contained a grass fire northeast of El Rancho Brewing Co. after fighting the flames for about two hours on a windy Labor Day afternoon.
The full evacuation of homes in the Summit Ranch neighborhood was been downgraded to pre-evacuation status, according to a tweet on X, formerly Twitter, from Foothills Fire Rescue. The fire began on Sept. 4 off Summit Ranch Drive, northeast of El Rancho Brewing Co., at 29260 U.S. Hwy. 40.
Called the Rainbow Fire, flames spread to less than an acre. Air support was canceled once crews got a line around the fire, which means water was going directly onto the burn area, according to Foothills Fire Rescue. Crews will monitor the area in the coming hours to ensure the fire is fully extinguished.
It will take some time to determine the fire’s cause, said Mike Amdur, Foothills Fire Rescsue spokesman. He said he was unsure at the moment whether the fire was on public or private property.
Along with Foothills, Genesee Fire Rescue, Evergreen Fire/Rescue, West Metro Fire, the Highland Rescue Team Ambulance District and the Jeffco Sheriff’s Office responded.
Some people posting on Facebook say they could smell smoke in the area. Winds have kicked up in Colorado foothills west of Denver, making fire conditions more likely.
