A sudden brush fire near a quiet residential corner of Glenwood Springs jolted residents into a flurry of fear and fast action Thursday evening. Though the fire was contained quickly, it forced apartment evacuations and briefly threatened homes east of Palmer Avenue.

Flames crept into the dry terrain between 23rd and 27th Street, just steps away from the Altitude Apartments, triggering a swift emergency response. By 8:43 p.m., the fire was under control. But for several anxious hours, it brought a serious scare to the Roaring Fork Valley.

The fire started small, but the fear spread fast

There wasn’t much warning.

A faint smell of smoke. The crackle of dry grass. Then flashing lights and frantic knocks on doors. That’s how it began for residents in Glenwood Springs on Thursday night.

Within minutes, firefighters were racing to the scene. The blaze—though relatively small at just a quarter of an acre—ignited alarm in a densely populated part of the city. Gusty conditions and dry vegetation only made things worse.

One resident, who asked not to be named, described the panic plainly: “It smelled like someone was barbecuing at first. Then it got serious fast.”

Quick thinking and fast boots on the ground helped contain it

Glenwood Springs Fire Department arrived within minutes. Their teams quickly assessed wind patterns, fuel zones, and the proximity to housing. It could have gotten out of hand.

But they didn’t let it.

Fire Chief Gary Tillman said the team had to act decisively: “We had a very narrow window to stop this thing from spreading into residential structures. We took it.”

They coordinated with local law enforcement, closed off Palmer Avenue’s east corridor, and evacuated Altitude Apartments as a precaution. According to city officials, roughly two dozen residents were temporarily displaced.

By 8:43 p.m., all evacuees had returned home safely.

How close did it come to disaster?

Closer than comfortable.

The brush fire didn’t leap into homes, but it singed the edge of the perimeter just west of the apartment complex. Some tree limbs blackened. A shed nearby had scorch marks.

One neighbor posted a photo of the flames licking at the base of a power pole. Another posted a video of families walking pets into the dark, smoke-lit parking lot.

Here’s what the fire department reported:

• Start time: Approx. 7:15 p.m. MDT

• Location: East of Palmer Avenue, between 23rd & 27th Street

• Size: ~0.25 acres

• Containment time: 8:43 p.m.

• Evacuations: Altitude Apartments temporarily cleared

• Damage: Minor vegetation damage, no structures lost

“Even a small fire can become catastrophic when it’s this close to where people sleep,” said a firefighter at the scene.

Glenwood’s dry summer is stretching nerves — and resources

It’s not even July, and the region’s fire risk is already nudging uncomfortable highs.

Glenwood Springs is no stranger to wildfire danger. But smaller brush fires like this often fly under the radar—until they don’t.

The U.S. Drought Monitor currently lists Garfield County as “abnormally dry,” a classification that signals high fire potential, especially in grassy zones. In fact, last week alone, Colorado crews responded to over 15 separate wildland incidents, most of them under 2 acres but all requiring active containment.

A quick look at conditions in Glenwood Springs:

Not ideal, especially with Independence Day around the corner.

Fireworks concerns bubbling to the surface again

Ask any fire official what worries them right now, and odds are, the word “fireworks” pops up.

Glenwood Springs, like many parts of Colorado, bans most consumer fireworks due to fire risk. But compliance? That’s another story.

“You tell people to leave it to the pros,” said a Glenwood Springs PD officer on Thursday night. “Some folks listen. Others… not so much.”

The concern isn’t just about legality. It’s about timing. Dry grasses. Stiff breezes. And a celebratory holiday weekend? Not a great combo.

Residents like Jamie Ruiz, who was among those briefly evacuated, put it bluntly: “If somebody sets off sparklers this weekend near my building, I’m calling 911 in five seconds flat.”

Officials urge calm — and caution

After Thursday’s fire, Glenwood Springs officials aren’t panicking, but they are paying close attention.

They’re reviewing emergency alert protocols. Rechecking hydrant zones. Monitoring wind forecasts. And urging residents to use the city’s Firewise resources—like clearing brush from property lines and storing flammables properly.

One city spokesperson confirmed they’ll also have more eyes on the ground for July 4th celebrations.

“We don’t want people to be scared,” the spokesperson added. “But we do want them to be smart.”