PHOTOS: Aerial view of neighborhoods shows devastation in Boulder County

By Hart Van Denburg
· Dec. 31, 2021, 4:39 pm
211231-POLIS-WILDFIRES-FLYOVER211231-POLIS-WILDFIRES-FLYOVERHart Van Denburg/CPR News
A neighborhood destroyed by fire.

After a fire ripped through Boulder County Thursday, displacing thousands of residents and burning more than 500 homes, Gov. Jared Polis, Brig. Gen. Laura Clellan, Adjutant General of Colorado, and Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle boarded a National Guard helicopter to survey the damage. CPR photojournalist Hart Van Denburg accompanied them.

211231-POLIS-WILDFIRES-FLYOVERHart Van Denburg/CPR News
Boulder County neighborhoods Friday, some homes destroyed by wildfires the previous day, others still in tact..
211231-POLIS-WILDFIRES-FLYOVERHart Van Denburg/CPR News
Aboard a Colorado National Guard helicopter, Gov. Jared Polis on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, gets a flyover tour of Boulder County neighborhoods destroyed by wildfires the previous day. He was accompanied by Brig. Gen. Laura Clellan, Adjutant General of Colorado, and Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle. Colorado U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet and Rep. Joe Neguse also toured the area in a separate helicopter.
211231-POLIS-WILDFIRES-FLYOVERHart Van Denburg/CPR News
Aboard a Colorado National Guard helicopter, Gov. Jared Polis on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, gets a flyover tour of Boulder County neighborhoods destroyed by wildfires the previous day. He was accompanied by Brig. Gen. Laura Clellan, Adjutant General of Colorado, and Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle. Colorado U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, right, and Rep. Joe Neguse also toured the area in a separate helicopter.
211231-POLIS-WILDFIRES-FLYOVERHart Van Denburg/CPR News
Boulder County neighborhoods as seen on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. They were destroyed by wildfire the previous day.
211231-POLIS-WILDFIRES-FLYOVERHart Van Denburg/CPR News
The "mosaic" of wildfire: some structures are spared, others not.
211231-POLIS-WILDFIRES-FLYOVERHart Van Denburg/CPR News
The "mosaic" of wildfire: some structures are spared, others not.
211231-POLIS-WILDFIRES-FLYOVERHart Van Denburg/CPR News
Aboard a Colorado National Guard helicopter, Gov. Jared Polis on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, gets a flyover tour ion Boulder County neighborhoods destroyed by wildfires the previous day. He was accompanied by Brig. Gen. Laura Clellan, Adjutant General of Colorado, center, and Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle. Colorado U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet and Rep. Joe Neguse also toured the area in a separate helicopter.
211231-POLIS-WILDFIRES-FLYOVERHart Van Denburg/CPR News
Aboard a Colorado National Guard helicopter, Gov. Jared Polis on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, gets a flyover tour of Boulder County neighborhoods destroyed by wildfire the previous day.
211231-POLIS-WILDFIRES-FLYOVERHart Van Denburg/CPR News
Aboard a Colorado National Guard helicopter, Gov. Jared Polis on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, gets a flyover tour of Boulder County areas destroyed by wildfires the previous day. He was accompanied by Brig. Gen. Laura Clellan, Adjutant General of Colorado, and Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle. Colorado U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet and Rep. Joe Neguse also toured the area in a separate helicopter.
211231-POLIS-WILDFIRES-FLYOVERHart Van Denburg/CPR News
The "mosaic" of wildfire: some structures are spared, others not.
211231-POLIS-WILDFIRES-FLYOVERHart Van Denburg/CPR News
Gov. Jared Polis on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, gets a flyover tour of Boulder County neighborhoods destroyed by wildfire the previous day.
211231-POLIS-WILDFIRES-FLYOVERHart Van Denburg/CPR News
Colorado U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, right, and Rep. Joe Neguse also toured the area in a separate helicopter.
211231-POLIS-WILDFIRES-FLYOVERHart Van Denburg/CPR News
Stepping out of a Colorado National Guard helicopter, Gov. Jared Polis on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, after he took a flyover tour of Boulder County neighborhood destroyed by wildfire.

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