Update 6:37 p.m.: Boulder County OEM announced that the fire is 100% contained, although still burning. The evacuation order for the area has been lifted.
Update 4:10 p.m.: The Boulder County Sheriff's Office said that US Highway 36 will soon be reopening. Closures for Mountain Ridge Drive and Lakeridge Trail will remain in place.
Original: An evacuation warning has been issued west of Longmont as Boulder County responds to a small grassfire in the Lakeridge Trail area.
The evacuation warning covers a small area around Allens Lake along US Highway 36 near Altona. Those in need of assistance or extra time are asked to begin their evacuation now.
US Highway 36 has also closed between Neva and Nelson Roads due to smoke causing traffic backup. Drivers are asked to use an alternate route.
At around 3 p.m., the Boulder County Sheriff's Office estimated the fire to be 8-10 acres in size. Four homes had been evacuated out of caution, but at that time no structures were on fire.
Air resources had been directed to the grass fire by 3:30 p.m. with the Boulder County Sheriff announcing that firefighters had begun containing the flames by 3:40 p.m. The fire remains at about 10 acres.
The fire is burning near the edge of the Calwood Fire burn scar. All of Heil Valley Ranch has been closed due to the fire.
No further information was immediately available.
