🌱 Marshall Fire Update: 2 Missing, Nearly 1,000 Homes Destroyed

Good day, neighbors! Amber Fisher here with the latest copy of the Denver Daily. I'm bringing you the most recent news about the devastating Marshall Fire, which destroyed nearly 1,000 homes. Two people remain missing. Federal help is now available through a dedicated assistance center, and many teams have been working around the clock to help those in need.

First, today's weather:

You can expect partial sunshine today, with a high of 47 and a low of 32.

Here are the top stories today in Denver:

1. Two people remained missing Sunday evening after the Marshall Fire burned 6,200 acres and destroyed nearly 1,000 homes in Colorado. Around 35,000 people were evacuated from Superior, Louisville, Broomfield and other areas. Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the massive wildfire, which spread rapidly because of high winds and extremely dry conditions. (Boulder Patch)
2. The people still missing after the Marshall Fire include a woman from Superior and a man from Marshall. Detectives, canine teams and a coroner's crew have been searching through debris, heat and the snow. The Boulder County Disaster Assistance Center opens today to help everyone who's been impacted by the fire. (Colorado Newsline)
3. Federal help is available through the assistance center for those who lost their homes or businesses in the fire. Boulder County residents and business owners who need help applying for disaster assistance can meet with Federal Emergency Management Agency staff at the center. (Colorado Newsline)
4. More than 800,000 Americans have died from COVID-19, the latest data shows. More than 10,000 of those deaths were reported in Colorado, which has the 11th lowest death rate per capita. (24/7 Wall St. - Denver)
5. Denver plumbers headed to Boulder County to help residents winterize their homes, as frigid temperatures create plumbing issues. Patton Plumbing employees have been going door to door to help their fellow Coloradans. (9News.com KUSA)

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From my notebook:

• Fraud alert from the Denver Police Department: Someone posed as a victim's boss and instructed the victim to buy $600 in gift cards and send photos of the redemption codes, police said. The victim did what they were told, and they were scammed, according to the department. Police are warning others to be vigilant. (Facebook)
• The Denver Art Museum, in association with Lighthouse Writers Workshop and instructor Franklin Cruz, will facilitate two free bilingual poetry writing sessions inspired by the upcoming exhibition "Traitor, Survivor, Icon: The Legacy of La Malinche." (Facebook)
• Nextdoor Neighbor, Washington Virginia Vale: An all-black cat went missing in the McMeen area in the frigid cold, and owners said they're worried. They are asking for the public's help finding the cat. (Nextdoor)

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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! I'll be in your inbox tomorrow with a new update.

— Amber Fisher

About me: I'm a Patch editor covering news in Denver's metro area and Boulder. I've spent the past nine years working for various news outlets across North America, including Chicago Patch, Global News and WBEZ. I've covered high-profile court cases, civil rights abuses, mass shootings, natural disasters and major crimes — but also countless happy news stories about kindness, innovation and resilience. When I'm not writing articles, I can be found hiking, snowboarding, debating politics with my husband and attempting to be a sci-fi and astronomy geek.