Denver, CO – Colorado officials and Xcel Energy are preparing for critical fire weather conditions across much of the state Monday, Oct. 20, as high winds and low humidity create an elevated wildfire risk.
According to the National Weather Service in Denver and Pueblo, Red Flag Warnings will be in effect from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday for large portions of the Front Range and Eastern Plains, including Jefferson, Boulder, Adams, Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert, Lincoln, and Pueblo counties. Forecasts call for northwest winds of 25–40 mph with gusts up to 55 mph and humidity levels as low as 13–15 percent.
Xcel Energy announced Sunday that it is evaluating Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) beginning around 11 a.m. Monday in Adams, Boulder, Jefferson, and eastern Denver counties. The measure is designed to prevent power lines from sparking wildfires during periods of extreme fire danger. The company said PSPS is only used as a last resort when other safety methods are insufficient.
Residents are urged to prepare now for possible outages, following Xcel’s outage readiness guidance:
- Assemble an outage kit with flashlights, batteries, water, non-perishable food, and a portable phone charger.
- Protect computers with surge protectors and have a battery backup available.
- Learn how to use generators safely, keeping gasoline-powered units outdoors and away from enclosed spaces.
Officials warn that any spark could lead to rapid fire spread under Monday’s conditions. Outdoor burning and activities that produce sparks should be avoided.
