wildfire
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Denver public safety power shut-offs ‘a last resort,’ Xcel says
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Although Denver has not yet experienced a public safety power shut-off, the Mile High City came close in December, according to Xcel Energy officials who briefed the city’s Transportation and Infrastructure committee Wednesday. Representatives from the utility company briefed members of the Denver City Council’s committee on wildfire mitigation efforts on Wednesday, highlighting a $1.2…
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Aurora wildland fire contained at Buckley Space Force Base
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A wildland fire burned Sunday morning on the southwest end of Buckley Space Force Base in Aurora, authorities said. The fire no longer posed a threat and crews were clearing the scene as of 10:53 a.m., according to Aurora Fire Rescue. Aurora Fire Rescue and the Aurora Police Department first responded to the fire burning…
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Denver area smoke blowing in from Nebraska fires
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The Denver area became enveloped in a thick haze Thursday afternoon as smoke blew in from fires to the east, the National Weather Service said. Originating from the Ashby and Minor fires in the Sandhills of Nebraska, the smoke began moving southwest across Colorado Thursday morning, NWS officials said on its website. The smoke entered…
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Xcel gets an earful from public for power shutoffs in Colorado
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Residents, business owners and local officials gave Xcel Energy an earful during a hearing convened by Colorado’s utility regulators on Wednesday, accusing the power company of using power shutoffs as a liability dodge that burdens communities. Xcel’s ability to trigger what’s called “Public Safety Power Shutoffs” or PSPS is officially sanctioned by the Public Utilities…
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A murder trial, a wildfire and gnarly roads are among the most notable news stories of 2025
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2025 brought a fair share of stories throughout Colorado, from the Eastern Plains to the Western Slope — none may have been more captivating than a murder trial in Centennial this summer. After three weeks of testimony, a jury found former Aurora dentist James Craig guilty of murdering his wife Angela in 2023 with lethal…
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Gov. Jared Polis urges Trump to reverse FEMA disaster aid denials
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Gov. Jared Polis and Democratic U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper are calling on President Donald Trump to reverse federal denial of Colorado’s requests for federal disaster declarations tied to recent wildfires and flooding. Polis’ office said he received two denial letters from the Federal Emergency Management Agency late Saturday. The letters followed requests…
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Xcel shuts off power west of Denver, nearly 100k Coloradans affected
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Tens of thousands of Coloradans on Wednesday were without power west of Denver after winds of up to 96 mph whipped across the state causing outages and led to Xcel Energy preemptively shutting off service in some areas. The shutoffs began around 10 a.m. as winds picked up, Xcel officials said at a news conference…
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Colorado rancher donates 72,000 pounds of hay to ranchers affected by Lee fire
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“We’re grateful that we can be a part of it. It’s the Western way.” The Lee fire burned more than 138,000 acres of grassland used by ranchers and wildlife in northwestern Colorado in August and September, affecting the livelihoods of dozens of ranchers and landowners on the Roan Plateau. The fire destroyed prime grazing lands…
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Xcel says high winds likely to bring power shutoffs to Front Range Wednesday
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Schools prepare to cancel, modify classes As the Front Range braces for wind gusts of up to 80 mph Wednesday, Xcel Energy let customers know that they may experience power shutoffs. Already, some of the school districts have begun preparations to cancel or modify school hours. In an alert Tuesday morning, the energy provider said…
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Xcel Energy prepares for power shutoffs due to high winds
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Forecast high winds along the Front Range on Wednesday revive memories of the devastating 2021 Marshall fire that destroyed more than 1,000 homes when gusts downed energized power lines. Xcel Energy now weighs proactive power cuts to avoid similar ignitions amid dangerously dry conditions. The Marshall fire erupted under comparable wind events with gusts exceeding…