Trash-Sparked Grass Fire Burns Over 1,000 Acres in Douglas County

A trash truck dropped a burning load near Dahlberg Road and touched off a grass fire that scorched 1,081 acres in Douglas County, forced 17 homes to evacuate, and drew resources from more than two dozen agencies before firefighters brought it fully under control.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office disclosed Thursday that investigators determined the Dahlberg Fire was caused by a "hot load" dropped by a trash truck. The fire ignited Tuesday afternoon, quickly spreading southeast through dry grass driven by high winds. Numerous state and local agencies rushed to assist South Metro Fire and the sheriff's office in battling the fast-moving blaze.

Around four hours after ignition, firefighters had the fire 100 percent contained and the evacuation order covering 17 homes was lifted.

"Hot loads" refer to fires that spark when materials inside a trash truck catch fire, smolder, spontaneously combust, or become toxic. Items capable of triggering a hot load include hot ashes, motor oil or gasoline, paint and varnish, propane tanks, lithium batteries, and cooking oil.

The Dahlberg Fire was not the only fire Douglas County crews confronted this week. The sheriff's office and South Metro Fire also responded to two separate fires: one near Santa Fe and Highlands Ranch Parkway, and another near C-470 and University. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office issued fire safety reminders, warning that heat and low humidity continue to heighten wildfire risks across the county.

The sheriff's department thanked the more than two dozen agencies that mobilized to fight the wildfire and coordinate evacuations, a response scale that underscores how quickly a single piece of improperly discarded material can overwhelm local fire resources in dry conditions.