Updated at 8:23 p.m. MST Dec. 30, 2021

To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Marshall Fire, including the most recent, click here.

The Element Hotel in Superior, CO burned:

Structures burn, including an Element Hotel, as a wind-driven wildfire forced evacuation of the Superior suburb of Boulder, Colorado. Photo by Trevor Hughes/USA TODAY NETWORK pic.twitter.com/3Te1fwEkMc

— corinne_perkins (@corinne_perkins) December 31, 2021

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Updated at 6:52 p.m. MST Dec. 30, 2021

At a 5 p.m. briefing Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle said he was not aware of any fatalities that had occurred at that point on the Marshall Fire, which has burned approximately 1,600 acres southeast of Boulder, Colorado. One officer has been injured. (see maps below)

“However,” he said, “I would like to emphasize that due to the magnitude of this fire, the intensity of this fire, and its presence in such a heavily populated area we would not be surprised if there are fatalities.”

The Sheriff listed the numbers of structures that had burned at the time of the briefing. The numbers, totaling about 580, are approximate:

• 370 homes in the Sagamore subdivision just west of Superior,
• 210 homes in the Old Town Superior area,
• The Target shopping complex in Superior was on fire,
• The Element Hotel in Superior was “fully engulfed”.

Sheriff Pelle said the Middle Fork Fire 5 miles north of Boulder near Highway 36 was reported at about 10:30 Thursday morning. The spread has been stopped.

The Marshall Fire, still vigorously spreading, started just after 11 a.m. Thursday.

From our photog @dave_wille near the Flatirons. These fires continue to take out entire neighborhoods. @CBSDenver #MarshallFire pic.twitter.com/UMViz2reI6

— Ryan Greene ? (@RyanCBS4) December 31, 2021

Evacuation Centers

Three evacuation centers are available: North Boulder Recreation Center, Longmont Senior Center, and the YMCA in Lafayette. Cots are on their way and authorities are arranging for meals. Large animals should be taken to Jefferson County Fairgrounds, 15200 W. 6th Ave., Golden, CO 80401. The Boulder County Fairgrounds was reported to be full Thursday afternoon.

Weather Forecast

The forecast for the fire area Thursday night is for partly cloudy skies with a low around 27. The wind speeds will be decreasing through the night, with a south-southeast wind 19 to 24 mph becoming southwest 10 to 15 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 37 mph.

On Friday snow is expected after 11 a.m. The temperature will rise to 34 by noon, then fall to around 27 during the remainder of the day. The wind will be west-southwest at 7 to 11 mph becoming east-northeast in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 18 mph. The chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches are possible.

The National Weather Service posted this list of maximum wind gusts in Boulder County today.

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Updated at 4:42 p.m. MST Dec. 30, 2021

We now have a better map of the Marshall Fire (above), based on heat detected by satellites at 2:05 p.m. MST December 30.

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 Updated at 3:18 p.m. MST Dec. 30, 2021

There are reports that the fire southeast of Boulder, Colorado, now known as the Marshall Fire, has spread east along Highway 170, crossed Highway 36 near Superior, and is burning near West Dillon Road, McCaslin Blvd, and St. Andrews Lane.

Unofficial reports put the size of the fire at 1,200 acres.

The Element Boulder Superior Hotel near Highway 36 and McCaslin Blvd has burned. A firefighter told the dispatcher that it was involved in fire, there was nothing that could be done, and did he have another assignment. Many other structures have also been destroyed. In another conversation, a dispatcher said there were so many requests for aid that “I don’t know where to start”.

We do not have a list of all areas under evacuation orders, but at 2:10 p.m. the Boulder Office of Emergency Management reported that an evacuation order is in effect for the city of Louisville which is between Highways 36 and 287.

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1:41 p.m. MST December 30, 2021

Two wildfires broke out today in the Boulder, Colorado area, driven by very strong winds gusting well over 50 mph. The Marshall Fire is near the town of Superior about 3 miles southeast of Boulder. The Middle Fork Fire is about 5 miles north of Boulder near Highway 36.We have reports that multiple structures are burning and some residents are trapped in their homes.

The wind-driven smoke is mixed with dust kicked up by the winds, degrading visibility out ahead of the blaze. Firefighters have been told that if they are in a smoky area to pull back until they can attack the fire safely.

The Marshall Fire a new and dangerous rapidly growing fire being spread quickly by strong winds. Anyone in the area who feels uncomfortable should keep in mind that they may not receive evacuation orders quickly enough to leave.

Near the end of the video below, check out the extreme winds. It was posted at 12:13 p.m. Thursday by @EricEnglish777.

Last video. I’m moving!!! pic.twitter.com/GsesauMpGf

— Eric English (@EricEnglish777) December 30, 2021

While very strong winds were gusting well over 50 mph, the relative humidity at 1:30 pm. near Superior was low, 24 percent, and the temperature was 44 degrees. The forecast calls for the wind speeds to remain high Thursday afternoon as a cold front pushes through, but to decrease to 20 to 30 mph Thursday night. There is a possibility of snow on Friday.

This situation is evolving rapidly. We will update this article as more information becomes available.

Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to LM.