Updated at 8:31 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024.
For the latest on the Goltra fire, click here.
The Goltra fire burning on Lookout Mountain near Clear Creek Canyon grew significantly overnight, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
U.S. 6 through Clear Creek Canyon remains completely closed to traffic and authorities are calling in additional resources to tackle the fire this morning. No homes are currently at risk, the sheriff's office said.
The fire covered 198 acres, just over half a square mile, Wednesday morning. Helicopters are dropping water on the flames, and the sheriff's office said it had 65 firefighters from across the Front Range working to contain the blaze.
Firefighters must navigate rocky, unsteady terrain to reach the fire. The area is steep, and high winds have fueled the fire's growth.
"It's very, very vertical and once again, we're dealing with a lot of rattlesnake activity in that area," Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Jackie Kelley said during a morning briefing.
Kelley said several witnesses reported they saw lightning strike the top of Lookout Mountain and officials are operating under the assumption that was what caused the fire to ignite.
Jefferson County lifted its stage two fire ban on Tuesday, citing "recent and forecasted weather" as lowering the risk of wildland fires. However, the county remains under a stage one ban, which restricts campfires, smoking and fireworks.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
