Table Mountain Fire in Boulder County caused by drone crash

BOULDER COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- Investigators say a drone crash caused the 52-acre Table Mountain Fire in Boulder County.

The fire was first reported around 3 p.m. Wednesday after dispatch received reports of smoke near the 5,000 block of Nelson Road. A mandatory evacuation was issued for nearby neighborhoods.

Thursday, investigators determined the cause and origin of the Table Mountain Fire.

According to the Boulder County Sheriff's Office, three researchers associated with the University of Colorado-Boulder’s Aerospace Engineering Department were at the Table Mountain Radio Quiet Zone with an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), commonly known as a drone. The sheriff's office says the researchers were conducting severe weather studies.

That's when the drone crashed at a high rate of speed into the ground, causing the lithium-ion battery to dislodge and ignite.

While they used an on-site extinguisher, the sheriff's office says the researchers were unable to put the fire out before it began to quickly spread due to the high winds.

According to the BCSO, the crew remained on-scene and fully cooperated with investigators. The sheriff's office says they were flying within regulations and the flying capability of the craft.

As a result, the BCSO says no criminal charges will be filed due to the accidental nature of the incident.