State mining safety crews are moving forward with plans to unearth a second active underground fire later this year in the area where the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history was ignited.
The Marshall Fire destroyed more than 1,000 homes on Dec. 30, 2021. It was pushed by 100 mph winds across open space and into the communities of Superior and Louisville. Two residents there were killed.
A view of the Marshall Fire in Louisville on Dec. 30, 2021.
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RELATED Marshall Fire investigation reveals most destructive fire in Colorado history was composed of 2 fires (2023)
Authorities, after an 18-month investigation, determined there were two ignition points – the first a smoldering wood pile on private property, the second below power lines. The latter is a point of contention, with Xcel Energy disagreeing with investigators’ conclusions. The company is fighting litigation blaming its lines for at least partially causing the blaze.
RELATED Investigators: Burning remnants of underground coal mines are possible cause of Marshall Fire (2022)
The investigation did not rule out the possibility that coal burning below ground for decades contributed to the fire. Winds as strong as those experienced during the Marshall Fire could conceivably draw heat from the underground coal fires to the surface.
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One such site contains the Lewis Mines that were abandoned and buried in 1946. A surface vent emitting heat measured at 120 degrees was discovered in 2018.
Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety
RELATED Disaster declaration issued for area in Boulder County to mitigate underground coal mine fire (2023)
Crews from Colorado’s Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety started an overhaul of the Lewis Mine site in January. Excavators carefully extracted land adjacent to the Davidson Ditch, alternately digging and filling 10-foot “fingers” of steaming ground to keep the concrete irrigation channel from collapsing.
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Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety
Crews dug 30 feet deep and encountered temperatures as high as 600 degrees. Where readings were greater than 90 degrees, crews mixed the heated soil with cool soil and rock until temperatures fell below that mark.
Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety
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The project wrapped up in early April ahead of schedule.
Crews are now planning to turn ground 2,000 feet away above the Marshall Mines, a DRMS spokesman confirmed. The department is currently in the permitting process with Boulder County since the project, slated to start later this summer or fall, will affect access to county open space at the Marshall Mesa trailhead.
It will be the second time mitigation efforts have occurred at the Marshall Mines. A vent from the mines there was blamed for starting a small brush fire in 2005. Three years later, 275 tons of rock was dumped on the site, raising its surface 18 inches.
Boulder County
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The recent Lewis Mines mitigation cost $316,002, according to the department’s spokesman, Chris Arend. The Marshall mitigation will be done now that additional federal money has been received by the department to address coal mine fires throughout the state.
In a 2018 DRMS study, there are 1,736 know abandoned coal mines in Colorado. A contractor hired by the state to examine them found 38 were actively burning or were dormant and extinguished after previously burning.
Logan Smith
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Logan Smith is an assignment desk editor at CBS Colorado in Denver with more than 30 years of journalism experience in digital, television and print media.
On Friday, the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 announced that it has reached a tentative agreement with the JBS meat processing plant in Northern Colorado.
The union held a three-week strike beginning in March over what it called unfair labor practices and low wages. The company and the labor union, which represents approximately 3,800 workers, announced that workers would return to work on Tuesday without a new agreement or change to JBS’s offer.
JBS Meat Processing Plant workers in Greeley went on strike early Monday morning.
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CBS
The new agreement comes after UFCW Local 7 says parties returned to the bargaining table for two days of negotiations.
In a statement to CBS Colorado, JBS confirmed it has reached a tentative agreement with the union.
The agreement will be presented to the membership for a ratification vote on Sunday.
Throughout the spring, the Colorado Buffaloes have battled a significant number of injuries in the wide receiver room. However, looking ahead to the fall, there are two crucial receivers that coach Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes will love to have back.
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Oct 25, 2025; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Texas Longhorns wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. (0) catches the ball during the fourth quarter against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
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DeAndre Moore Jr.
“DeAndre’s like a dynamic person. You guys will see that as he gets healthy and gets to play. So DeAndre, he’s been great from the leadership perspective and still showing up every day with a smile on his face and being happy to be there and leading the guys and teaching them what it’s like to be a receiver from the standpoint of knowledge wise and studying and learning in the room,” said offensive coordinator Brennan Marion on wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr.
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Marion making statements like this about Moore could reveal role that the Texas transfer receiver will have once healthy. In his time with Texas, Moore was very productive as he recorded 77 receptions for 988 yards, 11 touchdowns, and an average of 14 yards per catch. In his Longhorns career, Moore continued to progress and because of his versatility he was able to be a great weapon all over the field.
While the production is important, it seems that during the spring when he has been out with injury, Moore has stepped into a great role as a leader to teach the younger receivers how to prepare and be successful as a receiver when it comes to the mental side.
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Nov 8, 2025; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Joseph Williams (8) celebrates after catching a pass for a touchdown during the second quarter against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images | Ben Queen-Imagn Images
Joseph Williams
“I love Jo, he’s a great kid. His story is amazing, he works really hard. Just excited to get those back out there not only for their play on the field, but their leadership with the guys,” added Marion on wide receiver Joseph Williams.
As one of the few returning players to Colorado for the 2026 season, Williams has put his head down to work, and that has stood out to Marion in both his character and the impact he can have on the field as a player and as a leader.
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Williams was a good option to get the ball to in 2025 and could become an even bigger factor in Marion’s offense with his speed and work ethic. Last season, Williams totaled 37 receptions, 489 yards, four touchdowns, and an average of 13.2 yards per reception with the Buffaloes.
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The offense as a whole was inconsistent last season, but when Williams was able to get the ball in his hands, he showed he had the talent to make plays and could be a great option for 2026.
Williams has missed a lot of spring due to an injury as well, but has stepped in as a leader, bringing energy to practice as he learns the new offense and helps to develop the young receivers.
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Nov 22, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Julian Lewis (10) scrambles in the first quarter against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Offensive Outlook For The Fall
As a tandem, Moore and Williams have great physical traits with their speed and athleticism, but also their intangibles of leadership and understanding the game at a different level to help contribute to what many hope to be a much better offense.
The trust and anticipation that Marion seems to have in Moore and Williams suggest that both players will have a huge role in the offense when they return for fall camp. When the fall does come around, Moore and Williams do have to be prepared on the mental side for Marion’s offense, but based on their character and desire to lead, that should not be a problem.
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Redshirt freshman quarterback Julain Lewis projects to be heading into his first full year as the starter and having targets like Moore and Williams could be monumental for his development.
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Heading into the 2026 season, Marion looks to have another explosive year with his offense. Moore and Williams have a major opportunity to be consistent targets in the offense, but also can function as leaders to ensure everyone is on the same page to help the Buffaloes find success once again next season.
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Martin Necas, Nathan MacKinnon and the Avalanche have had a lot to celebrate this season. Jeff Curry / Imagn Images
The Colorado Avalanche clinched the Presidents’ Trophy with a 3-1 win over the Calgary Flames on Thursday night.
This is the fourth time in franchise history the Avalanche have finished atop the NHL’s regular-season standings. They also won the Presidents’ Trophy in 1997, 2001 and 2021.
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Colorado will be looking to buck a recent trend of disappointing postseasons for Presidents’ Trophy winners. Nine of the last 10 teams to win the trophy have lost in the first two rounds of the playoffs, and no winner has won the Stanley Cup since the 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks.
Prior to that, the Presidents’ Trophy winner had fared relatively well in the postseason. From 1999 to 2008, four of the nine Presidents’ Trophy winners went on to win it all, including Colorado’s 2000-2001 team led by Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg and Patrick Roy.
Colorado has been the NHL’s dominant team from start to finish in this regular season. It is only the sixth team in league history to hold first place from Nov. 1 through the end of the season. The team has been fueled by stars Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, who will both be in the conversation for postseason individual awards. Goaltender Scott Wedgewood has been a pleasant surprise, leading the NHL in save percentage and goals-against average.
The Avalanche will now enter the postseason as the top seed and will face the winner of the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference. That allows Colorado to avoid the dreaded 2-3 matchup in the Central Division that will pit the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild, two of the league’s best teams, against each other in the opening round.
Colorado has 114 points with four games remaining, with a chance to reach 120 points for the first time in franchise history. Only 12 teams have reached that mark in NHL history, with the most recent being the 2022-23 Bruins (135 points).
