Community hub gone.
A BCSO deputy called in the fire at 3:41 a.m. on Thursday, October 9, 2025, though neighbors report seeing flames out their windows as early as 3:30 a.m.
Photo Courtesy of Nederland Fire Protection District
All 20 businesses affected.
The cause of the fire is still unknown, and speculation as to where it originated and what time it started continue to circulate through town.
Photo by Christopher Kelley
Beyond any planning.
NFPD Chief Charlie Schmidtmann stated that, in planning in his head the possible strategies for battling a fire at the shopping center, he never expected to find the entire building, every store, to be on fire.
Photo by Christopher Kelley
For service to Nederland.
Brave first responders from Nederland, Timberline, Sugarloaf, and Boulder, put their lives on the line to keep the flames from spreading.
Photo by Christopher Kelley
"The last visage of the Guercios."
Is what one man said, commenting on the tragic disaster, mourning a historic place that meant so much to so many.
Photo by Christopher Kelley
Taking it all in.
NFPD Chief Charlie Schmidtmann assesses the situation while in the heart of the disaster.
Photo by Christopher Kelley
The call goes out.
The intense whirlwind of smoke and potential for the fire to spread East, due to weather patterns, caused an evacuation order to be sent out by Boulder County around 4:28 p.m., though many residents say they never received that information.
Photo by Christopher Kelley
"This is heartbreaking for our town."
Residents, business owners, and other onlookers gathered to watch the spectacle of a beloved town landmark burning down, even as nearby businesses and residential.
Photo by Christopher Kelley
Strategic placement.
Fire crews were separated into small squads and placed at specific locations to fight the potential spread to neighboring buildings, which would introduce more fuel and accelerants to the fire.
Photo by Christopher Kelley
Protecting Happiness.
Scott Harrison, creator of the Carousel of Happiness, stands tall next to the location loved by the Nederland community, watching over it as the flames threaten to leap over.
Photo by Christopher Kelley
Popping sounds persisted.
Small explosions could be heard in addition to the crackling of the flames, as the building was full of accelerants, from liquor, cooking oil, and timber, to camping gas, and oxygen tanks.
Photo by Christopher Kelley
"This is a f***ing wake up call!"
While Nederland residents evacuated, many took to social media to speculate as to the cause of the fire, and to reinvigorate conversations that have been going on for years pertaining to the town's Emergency Plan, the installing of fire horns, and the completion of a second bridge and an emergency egress road for Big Springs.
Photo by Christopher Kelley
"...counting our blessings."
Many people expressed how lucky all of Nederland is that weather conditions remained calm, and that the infamous mountain breeze didn't pick up to introduce another factor to the equation.
Photo by Christopher Kelley
Under pressure.
The Town of Nederland sent out an email notice to residents to conserve water at around 10:30 a.m., as the fire continued to rage.
Photo by Christopher Kelley
Xcel ordered to cut gas.
Upon arrival, Xcel Energy was unsure they had the authority to cut into the street in order to cut off the gas; but once the fire had started to reach gas valves, Xcel were ordered to cut the gas at any cost.
Photo by Christopher Kelley
A familiar place for familiar faces.
A sight of the flags that marked the outdoor seating outside of Tres Gringos, one of Nederland's favorite restaurants.
Photo by Christopher Kelley
The mark of tragedy.
The morning sun illuminated the sky, but highlighted the devastation that continued to rage on.
Photo by Christopher Kelley
Still thankful.
Though the shopping center is gone, thanks to the dedication of first responders across the Peak to Peak, two irreplaceable landmarks, the Train Cars and Carousel of Happiness, remain standing and unharmed.
Photo Courtesy of Tom Mahowald
Under pressure (continued).
Though NFPD Chief Schmidtmann reported some complications with water pressure at the parking lot end of the shopping center, he noted that the Town helped to reallocate water sources for the fire effort, and that tankers were continuously in rotation to get refilled at the Nederland fire station.
Photo Courtesy of Nederland Fire Protection District
Well into the morning.
The NFPD officially declared the fire under control as of 7:11 a.m., over three and a half hours since it was reported.
Photo Courtesy of Nederland Fire Protection District
In shock.
Derek Gregory of The Market stands in shock and awe at the scene of the tragedy. Later in the day Boulder Office of Disaster Management would help the owners and management of The Market assess the damage to their store, determining that, due to minimal smoke damage, the grocery store could reopen as soon as Monday.
Photo by Christopher Kelley
Many hands.
In their official statement, the NFPD thanked the many responders who contributed to the cause, including Sugarloaf and Timberline Fire Protection Districts, Boulder Emergency Squad, AMR Ambulance, Gilpin County Sheriff Office, and Black Hawk and Central City Fire Departments, who were on call.
Photo by Christopher Kelley
On the move.
Town Manager Jonathan Cain meets with officials at the site of the fire.
Photo by Christopher Kelley
"I really hope Tebo steps up."
The community begins to talk about how to help those businesses who had been displaced, and their employees who relied on those jobs for rent money and for food.
Photo Courtesy of Tom Mahowald
Stepping up.
Local organizations, businesses, and residents begin to mobilize to help those affected by the tragedy. An upcoming Eldora Ski Mountain event is changed to a fundraiser, Lovin' Cup (the charity run by The Deli owner Ross Alper) donated free sandwiches to first responders, local realtor Dan Vollmer started a GoFundMe for the affected businesses and their employees, and Wild Bear Nature Center advertised a benefit for themselves.
Photo by Christopher Kelley
Just a hole.
By 9 a.m., the Caribou Village Shopping Center was no more than a smoldering husk of a building, without floors, a roof, or walls.
Photo by Christopher Kelley
Still working.
NFPD firefighters were on the scene all day long on Thursday, as were BCSO deputies, who called in backfill deputies to resume normal patrols through town.
Photo by Christopher Kelley
Surveying the wreckage.
It will take until at least Saturday before the building can be deemed safe enough for investigators to conduct their work and find a cause for the tragedy.
Photo by Christopher Kelley
Stepping up (continued).
The GoFundMe, started by local realtor Dan Vollmer, was started at 8 a.m. and reached $52,000 by 2 p.m.
Photo by Christopher Kelley
Smoke inhalation.
Though no one was hurt or considered missing, there were animals at Wild Bear Nature Center, and cats at O'Neil Rocky Mountain Art, who unfortunately were unable to evacuate.
Photo by Christopher Kelley
Smoke inhalation (continued).
As of Friday, the air quality is being monitored, though the steady weather conditions during the fire kept the smoke high in the air and moving east throughout most of the event on Thursday.
Photo by Christopher Kelley
Short term solutions?.
The Town is currently working with local developers and property owners, including Tebo, to pinpoint potential solutions for providing space for displaced businesses to resume their operations.
Photo by Christopher Kelley
Photo by Christopher Kelley
Photo by Christopher Kelley
Photo by Christopher Kelley
A media flurry.
As the day continued on, more and more major news outlets, from 9News to CBS, came pouring into town.
Photo by Christopher Kelley
Evacuated just in time.
Those who evacuated to the Nederland Community Center had to locate a hose to clear all of the ash off of their car.
Photo by Christopher Kelley
A reoccurring nightmare.
Some residents who survived past wildfires, such as the Marshal Fire, confessed to having their PTSD triggered by the flames at the shopping center.
Photo by Christopher Kelley
"It's like half of town is just gone."
The impacts of this disaster will be felt for years to come, as the Caribou Village Shopping Center provided for up to 30% of Nederland's sales tax revenue.
Photo by Christopher Kelley
Watching over.
Community Center Director Dawn Baumhover and Town Manager Jonathan Cain plan their emergency response as the shopping center smolders below.
Photo by Christopher Kelley
Making the calls.
Town Manager Jonathan Cain paces feverishly as he coordinates the town's emergency response efforts from the site of their evacuation center, the Nederland Community Center.
Photo by Christopher Kelley
Providing safety.
Mayor Pro Tem Nichole Sterling steps in to sign and make official the emergency declaration for the Town of Nederland.
Photo by Christopher Kelley
