Homeless campers blamed for Aurora grass fire that burned 8.5 acres

AURORA | Firefighters say homeless campers inadvertently set off a fast-moving grass fire in northeast Aurora Wednesday that burned 8.5 acres before firefighters extinguished it, city fire officials said.

The fire was reported in an open field at about 12:30 p.m. near the 2200 block Himalaya Road after a fire engine traveling on I-70 spotted smoke in an open space south of a nearby building, Aurora Fire and Rescue spokesperson Eric Hurst said in a statement. 

“With a red flag warning in effect, AFR had two brush trucks staffed with additional firefighters, and they responded along with other units to the fire,” Hurst said. “Investigators determined the fire was accidentally started by people cooking at an encampment in the area.”

In all, firefighters from 12 fire and medical units, many using shovels and other hand tools, stopped the fire’s spread by about 1 p.m. Firefighters said the fire was out by about 2 p.m.

Fueled by warm temperatures, dry vegetation, low humidity and gusty winds, the fire spread east along I-70 toward Piccadilly Road at a moderate to fast pace, Hurst said.

No structures were threatened, and no injuries were reported, officials said.

Unseasonably hot and dry temperatures are predicted for the next few days, with local weather officials predicting fire-potential weather with gusty winds Saturday afternoon and evening.