Denver, CO
10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
Thornton police officers went door-to-door Wednesday afternoon to evacuate residents after a grass fire sparked near a high school, rapidly spreading and injuring five people, according to law enforcement.
The fire burned for more than two hours in Thornton before the city’s fire department announced the flames had been fully contained at 2:07 p.m. Wednesday. At that time, the fire had consumed roughly 10 acres, Thornton Fire Chief Stephen Kelley said in a news conference. Residents were allowed to return home shortly after 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Thornton Police Department said in an update.
Fire crews from across the Denver area responded to the fire at about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Kelley said. By noon, heavy, black smoke blowing from the scene had shut down Interstate 25.
The fire chief estimated that between 100 and 150 firefighters from various agencies responded to the fire.
No homes were destroyed in the fire, which started on a greenbelt between a residential neighborhood and local businesses, Kelley said. The cause of the fire remained under investigation on Wednesday and damage to the businesses was still being evaluated, he said.
“It is our intent to get ahead of these fires so we don’t have the spread … experienced during the Marshall fire,” Kelley said. “I think we’re very fortunate today that we did not have an outcome similar.”
No fatalities or critical injuries from the fire were reported on Wednesday, Kelley said. Five people, including four firefighters, were injured in the fire but are expected to survive. Additional information on their injuries was not available.
High winds fueled the fire’s “rapid spread” as most of the Front Range and Eastern Plains remained under a red flag warning, Kelley said.
The warning, which will be in effect until 6 p.m. Wednesday, covers parts of Larimer, Weld, Boulder, Jefferson, Broomfield, Douglas, Denver, Adams, Arapahoe, Morgan, Elbert, Lincoln, Logan, Washington, Sedgwick and Phillips counties, according to the National Weather Service.
Up to 55 mph wind gusts and humidity values as low as 15% are forecast through Wednesday evening, forecasters said in the warning.
“These are conditions that we continue to face on a daily basis here on the Front Range,” Kelley said.
Interstate 25 was closed in both directions for more than an hour near the fire’s start for low visibility, a closure that steadily grew before it was fully lifted at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. During the closure’s peak, all lanes of I-25 were closed between Colorado 53/58th Avenue in North Washington and 104th Avenue in Thornton, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.
Cameras along I-25 in the area of the fire showed thick, black smoke drifting across the highway just after noon on Wednesday.
Pinnacle Charter High School and nearby businesses were evacuated and several roads around the fire — which sparked near the high school at West 84th Avenue and Huron Street — were closed, according to the Thornton Police Department.
Continued road closures are expected in the area as fire crews work to extinguish hotspots and ensure the flames don’t rekindle amid high winds, Kelley said. Crews will remain in the area overnight.
The exact evacuation area is unknown, but police said it covered neighborhoods northeast of the fire. Information on the number of people and homes in the evacuation zone was not available.
Police established a formal evacuation shelter at the Margaret Carpenter Recreation Center, 11151 Colorado Blvd., after residents were initially directed to Water World.
Thousands of Xcel Energy customers remained without power in the area Wednesday afternoon, according to the utility’s outage map.
Outages included more than 3,000 customers in Jefferson County near Arvada and Westminster, 200 customers in Adams County near Sherrelwood and dozens of small outages in between, according to the utility.
Xcel Energy did not proactively de-energize power lines in the area, but utility officials were working with fire crews and were ready to shut down lines if needed, spokesperson Michelle Aguayo said.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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Von Miller has made it abundantly clear that he would like to return to the Denver Broncos and finish his career where it started. Miller has made that fact known at every possible opportunity, including a Von’s Vision charity event on Wednesday.
“I would love to bring back those Super Bowl 50 vibes, love to assist, to be the vice president to Bo Nix, to Courtland Sutton,” Miller said. “I’ve been the guy and also I’ve been the vice president as well. I would love to contribute to us getting back to the glory land, to holding up that trophy.”
Miller went on to note that he has lobbied coach Sean Payton to sign him (Payton coached Miller at a flag football tournament earlier this year).
Unfortunately for Miller, it sounds like there are no plans for a potential reunion with his old club. The Denver Post‘s Luca Evans reported that “as of last week,” there have been no talks between the Broncos and Miller’s representatives about a potential contract.
With a crowded outside linebacker room, Denver seems unlikely to re-sign Miller, but the 37-year-old pass rusher said he will “for sure” play in 2026. After totaling nine sacks with the Washington Commanders last fall, Miller will probably be able to find a home as a rotational pass rusher, but it might not be with the Broncos.
Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
Denver, CO
Denver Summit FC delays opening of Centennial Stadium, will play next 2 home games at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
Denver Summit FC will play their next two home games at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
Colorado’s first professional women’s soccer team was hoping to be at their new training facility in Centennial by July, but team says recent rain delayed construction, so they need to push back by two weeks.
That means their July 3 and July 12 matches will be at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City.
Summit FC is hopeful to be at their stadium in Centennial for their July 18 game against the Portland Thorns.
Centennial Stadium will ultimately become Summit’s training facility. They’ll play their games there until 2028, when they hope to move into their official home stadium at the Santa Fe Yards at Broadway and I-25. The Santa Fe Yards stadium will have room for more than 14,000 fans.
Denver, CO
Denver Fashion Week Responds To Community Demand With Second Model Audition Date – 303 Magazine
Following overwhelming demand from aspiring models across Colorado, Denver Fashion Week (DFW) has announced a second round of model auditions for its upcoming Fall/Winter 2026 runway season.
According to DFW, the organization received a large number of emails and social media messages from models hoping for another opportunity to audition after the initial model auditions on May 17.
In response, DFW will host an additional audition date on August 9, giving fresh talent another chance to join one of Denver’s biggest fashion platforms.
Known for its commitment to inclusivity and community-driven casting, Denver Fashion Week is searching for both traditional and non-traditional models with strong runway presence, personality, and confidence.
Audition opportunities include:
- Male and female models ages 6–65+
- Kids and teen models ages 6–14
- Stylish moms and fashionable children for the “Mommy & Me” runway segment
DFW continues to emphasize its all-inclusive approach to casting and does not select talent based on race, religion, body type, height, age, or sexual orientation. Both agency-represented and independent models are encouraged to audition.
Model Workshop Recommended
For first-time runway talent or anyone looking to sharpen their walk and stage presence, DFW highly recommends attending its Model Workshop ahead of auditions. The workshop is designed to help prepare models for the runway experience and provide insight into what casting directors are looking for during Fashion Week. REGISTER HERE
Audition Schedule
11:00 AM — Mommy & Me
Moms + children ages 6–12
11:45 AM — Ages 14+
Models 5’4” and under
12:20 PM — Kids & Teens
Ages 6–14
1:00 PM — Ages 14+
Models 5’5”–5’7”
1:45 PM — Ages 14+
Models 5’8”–5’10”
2:30 PM — Ages 14+
Models 5’11” and taller
What To Wear
Models are encouraged to wear fitted clothing that allows the casting team to clearly view silhouette and movement.
Recommended attire includes:
- Black fitted tank top or t-shirt
- Skinny or fitted jeans
- Heels 3”+ for those auditioning in heels
- Natural hair
- Minimal makeup and jewelry
DFW also recommends avoiding loud accessories that may distract from the runway presentation.
Important Notes
Models who previously walked in Denver Fashion Week’s Spring 2026 season are not required to audition again.
No comp card is required, as DFW will take measurements, photos and video during auditions.
As Denver Fashion Week continues to expand its platform, the organization remains one of the few major regional fashion weeks actively prioritizing accessibility, diversity and opportunities for emerging talent.
Follow Denver Fashion Week on Instagram
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