Boulder Office of Disaster Management

[Boulder Office of Disaster Management @BoulderOEM]

Outdoor emergency sirens will be tested today in several Boulder County communities as part of ongoing emergency preparedness efforts. Sirens will be tested on the first Monday of the month.

The community will hear a voice announcement indicating a test, followed by a one-minute siren activation.

Outdoor warning are designed to alert people who are outdoors to potential emergencies, including severe weather, hazardous materials incidents, and wildfires. Sirens are not intended to be heard indoors.

If severe weather or a significant emergency occurs during a scheduled test, the audible test may be canceled.

The monthly siren tests serve as an important reminder for community members to sign up for emergency alerts at https://t.co/hnXn3DoSCH, which provides notifications via phone, text, and email.

Community members are also encouraged to review their personal emergency plans and be prepared to respond to hazards such as flash floods or other emergencies. For more information about preparedness and training opportunities, visit https://t.co/TYYD4sphFs.

[Boulder Office of Disaster Management @BoulderOEM]

Emergency Operations Center is closed for this event as of Mar. 14 at 8:45 p.m.

[Boulder Office of Disaster Management @BoulderOEM]

A Damage Self Report form is now available online where community members can report any wind damage (downed power lines, trees, non-emergency situations). The form is intended to help officials assess impacts and reduce non-emergency calls to 911.

Access the Damage Self Report Form at https://t.co/9tXp9XzxMf

Please note: the Damage Self Report form is not a substitute for:

- Insurance claim reports (when appropriate)

- Private property tree limb clean-up. Individuals are responsible for proper tree limb clean-up and disposal.

-Reporting financial losses. If wind event reimbursements are offered, additional information will come from Xcel Energy.

If you need to charge your electronics, the North Boulder Recreation Center has extended their charging station hours to 8 p.m. Recreation services will close at their normal operating hours at 6 p.m.

[Boulder Office of Disaster Management @BoulderOEM]

We are receiving reports of outages in Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) areas and elsewhere. Important reminders:

1. Treat non-working traffic lights as a four-way stop and drive carefully.

2. Make sure all appliances are turned off/unplugged to avoid fires and surges when electricity comes back.

3. Follow food and medication safety tips such as keeping refrigerator and freezer doors closed and throwing out perishable food that has been above 40°F. Remember, food stays safe for up to 4 hours in a refrigerator, 48 hours in a full freezer and 24 hours in a half-full freezer.

[Boulder Office of Disaster Management @BoulderOEM]

We know it’s been nice outside, but please prepare for high wind conditions. All city and county Western Open Space property is closed. Charging centers will be available this afternoon at the following locations:

-North Boulder Recreation Center (3170 Broadway) with Xcel Charging Stations and Red Cross support from 2 to 6 p.m.

-Superior Community Center (1500 Coalton Road)

-Louisville Library (915 Spruce St.) and Lousiville Recreation Center (900 Via Appia Drive)

-Nederland Community Center (750 CO-72) and also available as a warming center.

Reminder that some parts of the county will experience a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) and others may lose power due to wind conditions. Even after winds subside, outages could last 24 to 48 hours as Xcel crews inspect lines.

Temperatures are expected to drop significantly tonight, so individuals without power may want to consider seeking alternative overnight accommodations.

We remain under extreme fire risk. Avoid all sources of ignition – any fire that starts is likely to spread quickly.

For more information, including maps, please visit: https://t.co/1vH3AztCMj

[Boulder Office of Disaster Management @BoulderOEM]

⚠️ High Wind and High Fire Danger for Boulder County – Sat, Mar. 14

Expect dangerous winds, extreme fire risk, and likely power outages. Prepare for possible outages up to 48 hrs. Charge devices, secure outdoor items, avoid sparks, and sign up for emergency alerts at https://t.co/adD7QZUNFJ

[Boulder Office of Disaster Management @BoulderOEM]

Disasters can happen anytime. Make sure you’re ready. Have a plan, sign up for emergency alerts, stay connected with your support system, and know where to find reliable information when it matters most.
https://t.co/qO4GpUtqFt

[Boulder Fire-Rescue @boulder_fire]

BLUEBELL FIRE UPDATE - 2:06

The fire is an estimated 5 acres. We have 50+ firefighters on scene and 1 helicopter is dropping water. Right now, the fire has moderate rate of spread, moving away from Boulder. No containment update at this time.

[Boulder Fire-Rescue @boulder_fire]

Bluebell Fire-

The evacuation notice is A WARNING.

Media Staging at New Vista High School. PIO enroute.

700 20th Street, Boulder

[Boulder Fire-Rescue @boulder_fire]

Emergency officials have issued an EVACUATION WARNING at 13:25:28 on 02-28-2026 due to wildfire occurring in the area of Chatauqua Cottages.

Visit https://t.co/FhKLvMgPSV for a map of the affected area and detailed information. More info to come

[Boulder Fire-Rescue @boulder_fire]

The fire is estimated to be about 1/2 acre, crews are getting water on the fire now.

[Boulder Office of Disaster Management @BoulderOEM]

Sign-up and join Boulder Office of Disaster Management for our next Disaster Preparedness Basics Workshop taking place on Tuesday, February 17th at 6pm at Boulder Fire Rescue Station 3 (located at 2967 Bluff Street in Boulder).  You'll leave with knowledge on how to prep yourself and your household for when disaster strikes, and all participants will receive preparedness supplies including a backup battery charger, water filter, and headlamp or flashlight.  You must sign-up at https://t.co/lw90wRxerw, or call 303-441-3647 for assistance with registration.

[Boulder Office of Disaster Management @BoulderOEM]

As the city and county continue to respond to the Xcel Energy power shutoff and its impacts, we recognize that some community members may still be experiencing outages or ongoing challenges.

The Office of Disaster Management (ODM) and its Call Center will close today, Saturday, Dec. 20, at 3 p.m., as recovery efforts transition to city and county operational teams. Support and recovery work will continue, and city- and county-specific updates will be shared through official communications channels.

For questions related to utility operations or power restoration, please contact your utility provider directly. If you need immediate or emergency assistance, always call 911.

Helpful information remains available at https://t.co/1vH3Azt4WL, including guidance on charging stations, debris cleanup, spoiled food safety, power surges, and other recovery resources. We encourage anyone who is still impacted to review these resources as they navigate the recovery process.

[Boulder Office of Disaster Management @BoulderOEM]

Make sure your appliances are turned OFF even when the power is out, so when the power turns back on, the appliance doesn’t start a fire.

If your home or building has lost power, turn off and unplug electric items, such as space heaters, toasters, stovetops, ovens, air fryers, hair tools, and other electric devices, until power is restored.
Take extra care to unplug devices if you leave your home or building while power is still out. This small step can protect your home from accidental fire.

For more information, including maps, please visit: https://t.co/1vH3Azt4WL

[Boulder Office of Disaster Management @BoulderOEM]

As a reminder, clean up on private property is the responsibility of property owners and residents.
We want you to be safe!
• Check for hazards.
• Contact your local government, if necessary. Trees between the street and a city/town sidewalk may be the responsibility of their crews.
• Assess the damage.
• Remove broken branches.
• Don’t over-prune.
• Don’t try to do it all yourself. Get professional assistance if needed.
Attention to removal of downed trees on private property online at https://t.co/zukofQ7Yfn
For more information, including maps, please visit: https://t.co/1vH3Azt4WL

[Boulder Office of Disaster Management @BoulderOEM]

Residents who are still experiencing outages are encouraged to pay attention to food safety. See tips below:

Food stays safe for:
•Up to 4 hours in a refrigerator
• 48 hours in a full freezer
• 24 hours in a half-full freezer

After power is restored
• Check food temperatures
• Throw away food above 40°F
• Food with ice crystals or that feels cold may be safe
• When in doubt, throw it out

Attention to food safety helps prevent illness and reduce food waste. Visit, https://t.co/xMQxAwmpGY

For more information, including maps, please visit: https://t.co/1vH3Azt4WL

[Boulder Office of Disaster Management @BoulderOEM]

Residents impacted by the wind event and power outage can bring their spoiled food and woody debris to Western Disposal Materials Management Center for FREE to have it properly disposed of.

Western Disposal Materials Management Center: 2051 63rd St, Boulder
This week’s hours:
-Saturday, Dec. 20: Open until 2 p.m.
-Sunday, Dec. 21: Closed
-Monday, Dec. 22: 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
-Tuesday, Dec. 23: 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
-Wednesday, Dec. 24: 7 a.m. – Noon
-Thursday, Dec. 25: Closed
-Friday, Dec. 26: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
-Saturday, Dec. 27: 7 a.m. – 2 p.m.

As a reminder, cleanup on private property is the responsibility of property owners and residents.

If residents have curbside compost collection at their homes, they can toss their spoiled food (after removing it from the packaging) or woody debris in there.

Food brought to Western can stay in the packaging, but there can be no glass containers.