What to Expect in the First 10–30 Minutes of a Wildfire Emergency

Grass fires, for example, are typically short-duration, fast moving incidents. Understanding what happens early during these complex incidents can help residents stay informed, calm and prepared. This information is intended to provide a typical timeline to help understand what may be happening, even if you don’t see official public information yet.

Important Reminders

Public Safety is Everyone’s Responsibility!

  • Residents should always prioritize personal safety and comfort
  • Make sure you are signed up for emergency notifications through LookoutAlert
  • You never need to wait for an official notice to leave
  • Evacuation Warnings (voluntary or pre-evacuation notices) are informational, not directives
  • Evacuation Orders (mandatory evacuations) are issued only when specific criteria are met
  • Information can change rapidly—check timestamps on updates
  • Neighboring jurisdictions may issue alerts that do not apply to Broomfield
  • Accuracy matters in emergencies. The City and County of Broomfield won’t issue alerts until information about conditions in Broomfield are verified, even if that means a brief delay as compared to neighboring communities that may have already posted online based on impacts to their community.

First 10 Minutes: Response and Assessment


What’s happening behind the scenes

  • First responders are dispatched and arriving on scene
  • Fire Department assessment on:
    • Fire behavior and spread
    • Weather conditions including wind speed and direction
    • Proximity to homes and structures
    • Natural and structural breaks (roads, highways, waterways)
  • Incident command is established, including unified command with law enforcement 
  • Additional resources are requested as indicated 

What residents may experience

  • Limited or no official public information yet, as initial conditions are evaluated and efforts are focused on incident response and mitigation
  • Increased activity from emergency vehicles
  • Neighbor-to-neighbor communication begins quickly

What residents should do

  • Protect your home from wildfire risk by following recommendations from FireWise USA
  • Prepare in advance for a possible evacuation, power outage or to shelter in place
  • Check for official emergency alerts (Lookout Alert), local government social media or trusted local news
  • Stay situationally aware - look outside and be aware of smoke, flames and wind direction
  • Avoid relying on general social media, Ring or Nextdoor for official information - use it as a prompt to check official sources and assess your own situation
  • Begin mentally preparing in case conditions change
  • Reduce fire risk around your home (if time allows) - close windows and doors, move flammable items away from your home, close garage doors and leave exterior lights on for visibility in smoke 
  • If you feel unsafe, act - do not wait for official notifications

10 to 20 Minutes: Information Development

What’s happening behind the scenes

  • On-scene conditions are continually re-evaluated, incident actions plans are adapted as needed 
  • Decisions are being made about:
    • Whether an evacuation is warranted
    • Projections on incident containment
  • Arrival and coordination with neighboring jurisdictions if boundaries are nearby and additional resources are required

What residents may experience

  • Conflicting information from various sources
  • Media reporting that may be incomplete or inaccurate
  • Notifications from neighboring counties that may not apply to Broomfield

What residents should do

  • Check Broomfield.org for Broomfield-specific updates
  • Monitor the LookoutAlert app for official notifications
  • Continue to evaluate your situation - look and listen 
  • Be prepared to act quickly 
  • Prepare to act if you feel unsafe—you never need to wait for an official notice to leave

20 to 30 Minutes: Clarity or Containment

What’s happening behind the scenes

  • Fire behavior is more clearly understood
  • One of three outcomes typically occurs:
    • Incident is contained and community threat is  terminated
    • Incident remains active but stable
    • Incident expands or evolves and additional action is required

What residents may experience

  • Confirmation that the incident is contained and threat is terminated 
  • Continued monitoring should active incident conditions change 
  • Official updates detailing additional action to be taken by community

What residents should do

  • Check Broomfield.org/EmergencyStatus for official instructions if issued; regular updates for ongoing active events will be included here
  • If no evacuation is ordered but you remain uncomfortable, take personal protective action and leave
  • Continue monitoring official Broomfield sources only