Drone Crash Likely Sparks Boulder County's Table Mountain Fire

LONGMONT, CO — A drone operated by University of Colorado, Boulder researchers crashed and likely sparked the 52-acre Table Mountain Fire in Longmont on Wednesday afternoon, authorities concluded.

The grass fire ignited around 3 p.m. Wednesday on Nelson Road, near North 51st Street, according to the Boulder Office of Emergency Management. Nearby properties were evacuated.

No structures were lost and no one was hurt.

On Thursday afternoon, authorities said the blaze probably ignited by a drone operated by researchers with the University of Colorado-Boulder’s Aerospace Engineering Department.

The researchers were flying a drone at the Table Mountain Radio Quiet Zone to study severe weather, the Boulder County Sheriff's Office said in a news release.

"While they were flying the fixed wing aircraft, it crashed at a high rate of speed into the ground causing a lithium ion battery cell to dislodge and ignite," the sheriff's office said.

The crew tried to put out the blaze with a fire extinguisher, but were unable to get to the grass fire before high winds could quickly spread the flames.

The crew stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators, authorities said. They were flying within regulations and within the flying capability of the craft.

No criminal charges will be filed and the blaze was accidental in nature, the sheriff's office said.