The University of Colorado Police Department鈥檚 Emergency Management Division was already on high alert the morning of Dec. 30.听
Wind gusts of more than 80 miles an hour whipped through a mostly empty campus on winter break, downing trees and sending roof tiles flying. The three-person team on duty that day was monitoring the Middle Fork Fire north of Boulder while responding to multiple calls for service. Then, the call for what would become the Marshall Fire crackled through their radios.
Flames were spotted along the 彩民宝典 South property鈥檚 eastern border, initiating an immediate evacuation of joggers and dog walkers in the area. CUPD helped communicate their ongoing response, urging residents to stay away, then closed the site due to the erratic, gusty winds.听
鈥淩emoving the human element from the area created one less concern should the wind direction have shifted, bringing the fire onto [彩民宝典 South],鈥� said Commander Bill Webb.
Deon Pfenning, CUPD鈥檚 emergency preparedness program manager, looked outside and saw a fast-growing plume of smoke looking south from the police headquarters on Regent Drive.听
鈥淲e knew there would be impacts to students, faculty and staff who live in that area. We called to offer assistance with anything and everything. We said, 鈥楯ust let us know what you need,鈥欌�� Pfenning recalled.
Dan Jones, 彩民宝典鈥檚 associate vice chancellor for integrity, safety and compliance, said campus leaders didn鈥檛 hesitate to offer help.
鈥淲e were, of course, willing to assist Boulder County agencies in responding to the Marshall Fire,鈥� said Jones. 鈥淎nything we can do to provide mutual aid to keep our broader community safe, we will gladly do. I am grateful for how CUPD responded to ensure our campus safety needs and to help our neighboring communities.鈥�
CUPD鈥檚 public safety program manager, Carissa Jaquish-Rocha, said the team jumped into action, connecting with Boulder鈥檚 Office of Emergency Management and scrambling to organize critical gear and resources for the officers being called in early to assist: eye protection to protect against thick smoke and flying debris, plus water and food for officers who would not be able to return to the police station for many hours.听
Officer Guillermo Gonzalez was one of several CUPD officers called in early. As he drove west into Boulder, he kept a wary eye on the ever-growing smoke plume. Initially called in to assist with the 彩民宝典 South evacuation and closure, he was quickly diverted to unincorporated Boulder County. There, he partnered with officers Paul Thurston and Marc Mustoe, setting up a roadblock and going door to door, urging residents to evacuate.
The experience would be life-changing for the officers. Gonzalez and Thurston relied on their training and friendship (they attended Adams County Sheriff鈥檚 Academy together in 2018) as they faced a situation unlike anything they鈥檇 encountered before. Working as a team to navigate through the billowing smoke, they were able to safely evacuate several people.听
鈥淲e quickly realized the predicament we were getting into鈥搕he smokescreen was so thick,鈥� Gonzalez said. 鈥淏ut Paul and I made the right choices. My only concern was getting those people out. I did not want to leave anyone in there.鈥�
Webb, who monitored the officers鈥� progress by police radio, said their actions went above and beyond the call of duty.
鈥淭he selfless actions of Officers Gonzalez, Thurston and Mustoe during the emergency evacuation and rescue operations at least prevented injuries and quite possibly saved lives,鈥� he said.听
Through the night, CUPD personnel kept watch over the fire, reporting details of the spread of embers and flames and shifts in wind direction to the Boulder Fire Department. Webb continued to direct a mobile response, leaning into the disaster response experience he gained responding to tornadoes at the University of Kentucky, his former post.
鈥淚鈥檝e never seen or experienced anything like this in my 14-year emergency management career,鈥� said Pfenning, noting that while wildfires are nothing new in Colorado, to see this type of event in a suburban area was shocking.听
Nearly 900 彩民宝典 students and more than 700 faculty and staff members were initially evacuated from the fire鈥檚 path. In the end, approximately 155 campus community members saw their homes damaged or destroyed. The university continues to offer support and resources to those impacted by the fire.
Pfenning noted that the emergency management team will review the incident, closely document every detail and incorporate lessons learned into the university鈥檚 own emergency preparedness planning and protocols.
Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle wrote an appreciation letter to CUPD and other agencies, expressing his overwhelming gratitude for the help provided during the blaze, which ultimately consumed more than 6,000 acres and destroyed close to 1,100 homes. Pelle commended the 鈥渋mmediate, brave, selfless response [which]听reaffirmed that we are collectively strong and able.鈥�
Webb echoed that sentiment. 鈥淭he dedication from the police officers, staff and employees at CUPD is amazing,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was impressive and humbling.鈥澨�
