Boulder Fourmile Canyon fire update: Will deadly California blaze cut into resources?

From SF ABC7

San Bruno blaze.

Last night, the high winds that hit the Fourmile Canyon fire burn area near Boulder didn't exacerbate the situation as feared. As Boulder County public information officer Mike Banuelos says this morning, "Firefighters held the line."

But will some of them be sent to San Bruno, California, to fight a deadly conflagration still burning at this writing?

The San Bruno fire, caused by a natural gas explosion, has reportedly destroyed over fifty homes and injured more than 120 people. Most outlets are reporting three deaths as a result of the fire, but the Los Angeles Times puts the figure at six. And that toll could grow.

So, too, has the number of firefighters working Fourmile Canyon. At this time yesterday morning, the total was 550; as of now, Banuelos says "we have more than 700 firefighters from at least 35 local, regional and national agencies," as well as "dozens of aircraft, including heavy, fixed-wing air tankers and heli-tankers."

Could some of these firefighting experts be sent to California? Banuelos hasn't heard anything to that effect yet, but he emphasizes that Fourmile "is a very high priority nationwide."

Moreover, it's far from fully contained. Numerous news agencies are reporting 40 percent containment, and while Banuelos can't confirm that figure, he doesn't dispute it, either. In addition, he says there have been no more confirmed residences or structures burned, leaving the total at 172 structures lost, 169 of them residences, with 25 other structures sustaining damage.

Yesterday, some residents on the eastern edge of the evacuation area were allowed back into their homes, then ordered out again -- although some have refused to leave. Will authorities be evicting them today?

"Officials have been going door to door," Banuelos notes, "but they can't force folks out of their homes. We're just doing the best we can with the information we have to get folks out of the danger area."

As for the warnings given to west Boulder residents about possibly leaving their homes should conditions shift, Banuelos points out that "those warnings were preparatory. We wanted to give folks the most heads-up as possible, as opposed to really getting ready for a full-fledged evacuation." He adds that advice about removing potential fuel for the fire "is always applicable" -- meaning those who haven't taken this suggestion should consider doing so today.

In the meantime, Boulder County has set up a Fourmile fire donation drop-off site at 3111 28th Street. According to Banuelos, "we're looking for gently used childrens' clothes, size-large adult clothes, unused personal hygiene items, adult and baby diapers and school supplies." Items can be left at the address from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Page down to see the Boulder press release about fire-fuel removal and other precautionary measures, as well as the latest local videos about the blaze.