On July 13, 2025, a rapidly spreading brush fire ignited near the southern end of Chatfield Reservoir, in Douglas County, Colorado. The blaze rapidly burned approximately 130-acres of dry grassland and brush within the US-85 corridor near the small town of Louviers. As fire activity continued and the temperature rose, factors of high winds and warmer temperatures meant that areas of Louviers and surrounding public parklands were at increased risk. Officials issued mandatory evacuation orders for Louviers residents and visitors to parts of Chatfield State Park, where local recreation activities were occurring such as Roxborough Cove.
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Firefighting Efforts and Overnight Rain
Firefighters from South Metro Fire Rescue, Douglas County emergency responders and state responders rallied quickly to protect life and property. Ground crews worked tirelessly to push through containment lines and stop the advance of the fire. Air support was provided through helicopter water drops until sunset. Luckily, the fire received a lot of assistance from rain that night, which suppressed the fire so that responders controlled 90% of the fire by Nightfall. That evening, all evacuation orders were lifted, and by the next day, most all of the area was accessible and safe.
Community Relief and Next Steps
There were no injuries or structural damages reported, which provided significant relief for residents and first responders. Louviers residents could return home and Chatfield State Park members were able to reopen the park. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but early reports didn’t indicate any suspicious activity. The crews will continue to monitor for flare-ups and hotspots in the area to create containment. This situation demonstrates the serious speed with which brush fires can escalate—and how critical preparedness, rapid coordination, and favorable weather conditions mitigate a potentially deadly situation. click here for source
