A wildfire breaks out south of Chautauqua on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 28, 2026. (Sagan Randall/CU Independent)
A wildfire broke out south of Chautauqua Park on Saturday afternoon, prompting firefighters from multiple departments to the scene to contain and extinguish the fire. People were evacuated from the park as it was converted to a staging ground for first responders. Local residents gathered along Baseline Road to watch a helicopter drop loads of water onto the fire. According to a post on X by Boulder Fire-Rescue, the fire was deemed 100% contained as of 6:30 p.m. Saturday evening.
A helicopter responds to the Bluebell Fire Saturday afternoon, Feb. 28, 2026. (Sagan Randall/CU Independent)
An onlooker sits at a bench in Chautauqua while a wildfire breaks out on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 28, 2026. (Sagan Randall/CU Independent)
A wildfire breaks out south of Chautauqua on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 28, 2026. (Sagan Randall/CU Independent)
An onlooker watches a wildfire south of Chautauqua on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 28, 2026. (Sagan Randall/CU Independent)
Firefighters respond to a wildfire south of Chautauqua on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 28, 2026. (Sagan Randall/CU Independent)
A helicopter dumps water onto the Bluebell Fire Saturday afternoon, Feb. 28, 2026. (Sagan Randall/CU Independent)
Onlookers watch a wildfire south of Chautauqua on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 28, 2026. (Sagan Randall/CU Independent)
Firefighters respond to a wildfire south of Chautauqua on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 28, 2026. (Sagan Randall/CU Independent)
Contact CU Independent Visuals Editor Sagan Randall at sagan.randall@colorado.edu.
