LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — The Cameron Peak Fire started in the wilderness west of Fort Collins on Aug. 13. It burned for 112 days, becoming the largest wildfire in Colorado history at 208,913 acres.
Below is a blog of updates from the fire. It has been archived.
UPDATE (Dec. 2, 8:10 p.m.): The Cameron Peak Fire is now 100% contained.
UPDATE (Nov. 15, 3:08 p.m.): As the fire remains at 208,913 acres and 92% containment, Northwest Incident Management Team 10 (IMT) will relinquish command to the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office.
Each local fire district will take over the area it covers. LCSO will maintain command in areas on state and private lands not covered by a fire district.
UPDATE (Nov. 14, 1:18 p.m.): Snow and strong winds are hitting the fire area today.
“Due to the wind, there is a small potential for single tree torching, but there is not concern for a rapid rate of fire spread due to patchy snow,” officials said in an update.
Due to the risk of frostbite and the danger of driving high-profile vehicles in blustery conditions, suppression repair efforts are on hold. However, firefighters are standing by in case there are flare-ups.
Firefighting authorities provided the following information about their future efforts:
“In the upcoming days, when crews are able to safely reengage firefighters will continue processing on the 86 and 523 roads in the northwest section. They will launch repair of the equestrian trail south of Red Feather Lakes Road, continue road repair on Mt. Clover, and will continue private land dozer line restoration. On the southeast section, the Dunraven Trail area and The Retreat area will be repaired and branches will be chipped.”
UPDATE (Nov. 8, 10:57 p.m.): As long as weather allows, officials say repairing fire line in areas where it is no longer needed will continue through the fall and early winter.
Officials reported that fire suppression repair has been completed at one iconic location near Estes Park — the YMCA of the Rockies.
UPDATE (Nov. 8, 12 p.m.): Crews will focus on the Pingree area, southwest of the CSU Mountain Campus on Sunday. The terrain in this area poses many overhead hazards to ground resources; however, aviation resources will be available to aid as weather permits. Suppression repair will continue along contained lines of both fire areas. As a reminder, smoke will to be visible until a season-ending event occurs, due to smoldering interior pockets of fuel.
UPDATE (Nov. 7, 3:09 p.m.): The incoming cold front is expected to bring much-needed moisture to the fire area.
According to officials, the system may bring rain and 3-5 inches of snow to higher elevations starting tomorrow morning. Much colder temperatures are also in the forecast.
UPDATE (Nov. 6, 10:45 a.m.): Helicopters were used Thursday to drop retardant and water on several hot spots near the North Fork slop-over.
Today, a low-pressure system is expected to bring gusty winds to the fire area. smoke will be visible where the fire continues to smolder. Air support is expected to be available throughout the day.
UPDATE (Nov. 5, 10:34 p.m.): Weather conditions will remain warm, dry and windy tomorrow. However, a cold front arrives Saturday night. Officials are expecting 3-5 inches of snow at higher elevations.
UPDATE (Nov. 5, 10:45 a.m.): Smoke and fire activity is visible in a few areas, but incident managers for the Cameron Peak Fire say there is a low probability of the flames spreading beyond isolated spots.
UPDATE (Nov. 5, 1:38 a.m.): The fire is now 92% contained, according to the latest estimate from officials. It has burned 208,913 acres.
Officials say 1,103 people are assigned to fighting the fire.
UPDATE (Nov. 4, 9:15 a.m.): Fire crews attacked the Cameron Peak Fire from the air yesterday, focusing retardant drops to isolate fire activity inside the fire perimeter, incident managers said.
On the exterior, crews continued to connect containment lines – specifically in the Pingree and CSU Mountain campus area.
Today, crews will work on repair efforts where conditions and access allow. Managers are building a repair plan for areas inside Rocky Mountain National Park that were damaged by the Cameron Peak Fire and the Thompson Zone of the East Troublesome Fire.
There are 105 miles of dozer line, 20 miles of handline and 72 miles of road that crews will work on returning to pre-fire conditions.
UPDATE (Nov. 3, 11:45 a.m.): As people return to their homes, the incident management team is warning them to be aware of their surroundings.
“Look Up, Look Down, and Look All Around.”
Smoke will be visible within the fire perimeter as unburnt areas ignite, and this is expected to continue until winter arrives in full.
Today, crews will continue repair work in areas where the fire is contained. There will also be crews working to repair dozer lines in other areas where fire suppression damaged them.
A weak cold front tomorrow could push the fire east into uncontained areas around Pingree, Glen Haven, the Retreat and North Fork, however fire crews are stationed and ready to act if this happens.
UPDATE (Nov. 2, 8:27 p.m.): Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith said about 450 structures were destroyed, with 220 of those being some sort of residence. Thirty of the residences were documented as primary residences.
“As nice and relieving as it is to get people back to their properties, we recognize the process is still long and grieving will be significant for many residents,” Smith said. “And certainly those who lost their primary home. I know there is a long road ahead.”
Watch full update above.
UPDATE (Nov. 2, 3:44 p.m.): As snow continues to melt and temperatures heat up, firefighters have been able to secure more perimeter and conduct mop-up in many areas.
Officials will continue to monitor smokey areas to secure perimeter where needed.
Smoke may be visible from the Pingree Park, Cedar Park, North Fork and Thompson Zone areas as temperatures increase and smoldering continues.
Authorities will provide an update this evening at 7:30 p.m. You can watch here or in the KDVR app.
The latest map of the fire and containment are below:
UPDATE (Nov. 2, 10:54 a.m.): All evacuation orders in Larimer County have been lifted – this includes mandatory and voluntary evacuations for the Cameron Peak Fire and the portion of the East Troublesome Fire that crossed in Larimer County.
The Cameron Peak Fire Damage Assessment team says it was unable to find contact information for all property owners.
If you discover structure damage when you return to your property and you were not officially notified, email Larimer Office of Emergency Management at oem@larimer.org with your name, address, and current phone number.
UPDATE (Nov. 1, 1:07 p.m.): A wind event occurred today across the Cameron Peak Fire and East Troublesome Thompson Zone. Wind gusts up to 50 mph tested the fireline. Thanks to the hard work of crews, as well as the snow and high fuel moisture, firelines held keeping the fire within its current perimeter. Fire managers anticipate that within a few more shifts, containment will increase. Air operations was unable to fly yesterday due to the wind conditions.
Snowmelt continues across many areas of the fire, making it easier for firefighters to access locations where heat and smoke persist. Heavy equipment is also being utilized where needed. Despite smoldering and some smoke in the Pingree Park area, fire managers anticipate they can gain increased containment in that area soon, as crews are working the fireline to ensure the fire will not spread beyond the existing control lines.
UPDATE (Oct. 31, 9:43 p.m.): Cameron Peak Fire officials posted a compilation of videos over the fire as well as video updates and a plethora of information on the fire
UPDATE (Oct. 31, 11:27 a.m.): Yesterday’s warm, sunny weather increased snowmelt, giving firefighters better access to the fire.
A dry cold front moved into the area this morning, bringing gusts of up to 50 mph. However, authorities said the wind will be less detrimental than in the past, as it won’t last as long and overall conditions (temperature, humidity, fuels prone to burning) are less severe.
“The winds will accelerate snow melt and drying, which will improve firefighter access. It will also expose more of the fire edge and show where heat remains. This will be an advantage to fire managers as they prioritize where to focus resources to build direct and indirect fireline and reinforce existing lines during today’s activities on the Thompson Zone and the southern fire perimeter of the Cameron Peak Fire,” officials said in an update.
UPDATE (Oct. 30, 3:19 p.m.): The evacuation status for County Road 44H from Moody Hill west to Pennock Pass has been updated to voluntary from mandatory.
Officials say residents should remain prepared for mandatory evacuations in case fire conditions change.
Only residents will be able to enter so they should have their ID with them. Officials ask residents to use caution when driving through the area, as emergency crews are still present.
UPDATE (Oct. 30, 1:54 p.m.): Winds are expected to pick up out of the northwest and west, with conditions getting gusty after midnight and dying down Saturday afternoon. Officials do not expect significant fire behavior because of the wind.
The wind will help expose remaining hot spots for firefighters to take action in the days ahead. Authorities say to expect more smoke tomorrow. Firefighters are ready to engage when and where they can safely do so.
UPDATE (Oct. 29, 9:34 p.m.): Officials say the snowstorm helped firefighting efforts significantly, making it unlikely (but not impossible) that the Cameron Peak and East Troublesome fires will merge.
According to authorities, 1,490 people are currently assigned to fighting the fire.
Acreage and containment estimates remain the same (208,663 and 64%, respectively).
UPDATE (Oct. 29, 1:15 p.m.): Crews took advantage of the clear weather Wednesday to perform ground-level reconnaissance of the Cameron Peak Fire and the East/Thompson Zone of the Troublesome Fire. They also used aerial surveillance and noticed a decrease in smoke from the Thompson Zone but an increase in the Pingree Park and Comanche Reservoir area.
It is expected to be a few more days before access roads are dry enough for heavy equipment to safely travel on them.
UPDATE (Oct. 28, 5 p.m.): Pre-evacuation notices have been lifted in the following areas:
Highway 7 to Allenspark, Highway 7 east to Panorama Peak, the Estes Valley east of the Marys Lake Road corridor east of the Elm Road corridor and east of the Fall River corridor, Highway 34 from Mall Road to the Dam Store, County Road 31D from Sylvan Dale to Ellis Ranch, the Crosier Mountain area north of Highway 34 and County Road 43 west of Glen Haven to Estes Park.
Residents in those areas are no longer under any restrictions.
UPDATE (Oct. 28, 11:15 a.m.): The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office has downgraded the evacuation status from mandatory to voluntary for the Monument Gulch and Pingree Park area.
Residents from the Poudre Springs Subdivision and those north along the Pingree Park Road to Highway 14, including Monument Gulch, may return home under the voluntary evacuation status.
Residents must have identification proving they live in the area and are being advised to be prepared to leave if conditions change.
Emergency crews remain in the area and people are advised to be on alert as they drive through.
Because many access roads are not paved, firefighters need to wait for them to dry out after the snow melts before they can bring in heavy equipment.
Aerial surveillance will continue to be used to monitor hot spots and watch for growth into new areas.
UPDATE (Oct. 27, 3:45 p.m.): New details from the Cameron Peak Fire show that at least 434 structures have been destroyed.
The fire, which is 64% contained, has spread to an area of 208,663 acres.
UPDATE (Oct. 27, 3:27 p.m.): Crystal Mountain residents planning to go up to the area Wednesday should meet at the Masonville Mercantile at 8am.
Prepare for winter driving conditions, 4×4 vehicles, chains if available. Officials will escort residents in but once at property, residents may come and go as they please.
Note from the Postal Service for residents around the fire to get mail:
Estes Park, Drake and Glen Haven customers can pick up their mail at the Loveland Valentine Station, 601 N. Cleveland, 80537 M – F 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Masonville customer can pick up their mail at the Loveland Main Post Office, 446 E. 29th St. Loveland, CO 80538 M – F 8:30a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Red Feather Lakes Post Office has been re-opened and operating normal business hours.
A photo ID is required to pick up mail.
UPDATE (Oct. 27, 2:15 p.m.): Today fire management was transferred to the Pacific Northwest Type 1 Incident Management Team.
The winter storm brought 15+ inches of snow to the fire area, but is not expected to be enough to fully extinguish the fire. Fire activity could become more active as temperatures increase later in the week.
At this time, hazardous conditions are still a factor on the ground so air support will continue to monitor the conditions.
UPDATE (Oct. 26, 10:54 p.m.): Officials do not expect much fire activity in the next 24 hours due to the amount of snow that fell on the fire. Rocky Mountain National Park reported the fire has not spread in the park since Sunday.
Containment has risen to 64% and acreage remains at 208,663.
UPDATE (Oct. 26, 4:58 p.m.): Officials have downgraded the evacuation status from mandatory to voluntary for the east side of County Road 27 from Masonville to the Stove Prairie School.
UPDATE (Oct. 26, 10:05 a.m.): Snow fell across the entire area Sunday into Monday, something the incident management team said is much needed.
“[This] is a huge plus for all of the firefighters who have been engaged for the past 76 days,” stated Operations Section Chief Paul Delmerico.
The cold and snow prevents the fire from growing at all and is expected to keep activity minimal for several more days. However, it may not be enough to extinguish the fire completely.
UPDATE (Oct. 25, 7:23 p.m.): Mandatory evacuations have been changed to voluntary in the Estes Valley east of the Marys Lake Road corridor, east of the Elm Road corridor and east of the Fall River Road corridor.
Even though fire activity has slowed due to the snow, officials warn residents to remain prepared for evacuations if conditions change.
Authorities advise residents returning to use caution as road conditions are poor, snowplows are out and services are limited.
UPDATE (Oct. 25, 5:23 p.m.): From the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office:
“Property owners who have been contacted about known structure losses will be able to start bringing insurance adjusters to their properties later this week as conditions allow. Some areas will require firefighter escorts, and those will only be available at specific times. The Stringtown, Moondance, Windsong, Windy Ridge, Owl Hollow and Crystal Mountain areas will require escorted access. Crystal Mountain access will be on Wednesday, residents and adjusters should meet at the Masonville Mercantile parking lot by 8 a.m. Stringtown, Moondance, Windsong, Windy Ridge, and Owl Hollow access will be on Thursday, residents and adjusters should meet at the Masonville Mercantile parking lot by 8 a.m. People who own property in these specific areas who have not been contacted by the Damage Assessment Team should provide updated contact information to oem@larimer.org with the subject Stringtown/Moondance/Crystal Mountain Contact Info. For all other areas, normal access procedures will continue.”
UPDATE (Oct. 25, 11:25 a.m.): The fire is now 208,663 acres with 61% containment.
UPDATE (Oct. 25, 9:37 a.m.): Ground and air crews will not be actively fighting the fire this morning due to dangerous conditions.
“Snow, cold temperatures, and wind are creating unsafe wind chills and road conditions and difficult access in many areas. As it is deemed safe to do, firefighters will be placed back on the fireline to continue structure protection and reinforcement of the firelines,” officials said.
While the snow is expected to help firefighting efforts, officials say it will not extinguish the blaze, especially with drier and warmer conditions returning later this week.
UPDATE (Oct. 24, 11:04 p.m.): The Cameron Peak Fire continues to burn not far from the Thompson Zone of the East Troublesome Fire, forcing more evacuations along Hwy 34 between Estes Park and Drake Saturday morning.
Annie Erickson is among the thousands of people who have had to leave their homes behind.
“You don’t know if one minute everything is good and you’re just waiting to go back home or the next minute you don’t have a home and you’re waiting to go from there, you know,” she said.
Erickson is now moving her kids and pets into a hotel room in Loveland as they wait for any news on their home.
As of Saturday night, the Cameron Peak Fire was 60% contained — the highest level since it started burning in mid-August.
Public Information Officer, Cass Cairns says crews were able to use limited aerial resources to drop water in the area near Glen Haven.
“They were going to stay with it as long as the wind conditions would allow it to happen. At least they had that extra support which is great,” said Cairns.
She says the forecasted snow will provide relief for crews but only temporarily.
“It will help for the time that it’s on the ground. It will cool things down and give our firefighters a chance to take an aggressive attack — go on offense as opposed to being defensive,” said Cairns.
Cairns says once the snow melts and relative humidity drops, the fire conditions will return to their current state.
UPDATE (Oct. 24, 12:50 p.m.): Crews are dealing with a spot fire that started between Glen Haven and Storm Mountain.
UPDATE (Oct. 24, 10:48 a.m.): Evacuation orders have been lifted for the following areas: All of Redstone Canyon and Otter Road, Highway 14 from Kelly Flats to the Larimer/Jackson County line, Highway 14 north to County Road 86, County Road 103 north to the Tunnel Campground and Old Roach (from the Mullen Fire).
Residents in these areas are no longer under any restrictions, according to the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office.
UPDATE (Oct. 24, 10:25 a.m.): Colorado Highway 14 has reopened between Fort Collins and Walden. It had been closed since Aug. 13.
“While fire activity in the immediate area has diminished, which allowed for the opening, CDOT crews will still need to clear some debris from the shoulders and do other road work to get the road ready for the winter snow season. The road may be reduced to one lane at times to complete this work, which will cause some delays,” the Colorado Department of Transportation said in an update.
CDOT is urging people to not use the highway unless absolutely necessary.
“This is not a good time to be on CO 14,” CDOT Region Transportation Director Heather Paddock said. “I know people are curious about the area and the fire, but there will be plenty of time to return to the area when conditions are better. We wanted to open this road to allow access for people who need this travel option right now as other routes have closed. There is still a lot of work to be done here, and the fewer people up there right now, the better it will be for everyone.”
UPDATE (Oct. 24, 8:28 a.m.): According to the National Weather Service, both the East Troublesome and Cameron Peak fires remained active overnight and this morning.
“Strong winds up to 60 mph and low humidity may allow for rapid fire growth today,” the NWS said.
UPDATE (Oct. 23, 8:21 p.m.): Containment of the fire has increased to 60%. Size remains at its previous estimate: 206,977 acres.
According to officials, 1,903 people are currently assigned to fighting the fire.
UPDATE (Oct. 23, 11:03 a.m.): The management team in charge of the Cameron Peak Fire is coordinating with the management team from the East Troublesome Fire after that fire in Grand County spotted across the continental divide and ignited about 1,200 acres within Rocky Mountain National Park.
This well be called the East Zone of the East Troublesome Fire, and crews will be sent from the Cameron Peak fire to assess the spot fires and if possible begin “aggressive suppression efforts.”
As for the Cameron Peak Fire itself, crews were successful Thursday in gaining additional containment along the eastern and southern portions.
Cold weather and precipitation over the next few days are expected to help suppression efforts.
Branch I is in patrol status. Crews is Division D continue to patrol the entire ridge on the west side and remove equipment that is no longer needed so it can be reallocated to other places on the fire. Power poles and lines along Highway 14 continue to be repaired. Firefighters will continue to monitor and mop-up hot spots.
Firefighters were successful in Branch II adding containment line and securing structures. Division T crews constructed line and tied the 407 Road into the 44H Buckhorn Road securing an important anchor point. Crews in Division V added containment line along CR27 and the southeast corner and expect that progress to continue over the next several days. Division U firefighters accomplished containment line around the majority of the Otter Road spot fire and have secured the line around the NW corner. Crews continue to reinforce line around the spot fire and protect values at risk.
Branch III took advantage of the weather and made good progress on securing the southern perimeter. Firefighters in Division Y have been successful with heavy equipment reinforcing line from CR27 west towards Cedar Park and now towards Storm Mountain. Division X crews are constructing line to connect with Division Y. Forces also monitor the fire’s edge in The Retreat and the area around Storm Mountain. This area is steep with severe terrain where direct line is not possible, so firefighters have to use indirect tactics as the fire travels towards CR43. Crews have made good progress on containing the slopover in Division X and have tied that area back into the North Fork Trail. Day and night shift operations will continue work on the trail and take suppression actions as needed.
Division W and Z continue working directly with Rocky Mountain National Park to monitor fire activity and develop a coordinated plan for suppression within the National Park.
UPDATE (Oct. 23, 12:27 a.m.): The fire is 57% contained burning 206,977 acres. Crews continued to make good progress on strengthening containment lines and reinforcing lines around structures.
UPDATE (Oct. 22, 3:40 p.m.): Cameron Peak Fire officials have downgraded the mandatory evacuations to voluntary evacuations for those living on the east side of County Road 25E in Redstone Canyon, and also for the area from County Road 29 east to County Road 27. Please be sure to have proper identification to show residency in that area, as only residents will be allowed to enter.
UPDATE (Oct. 22, 11:15 a.m.): Helicopters were able to work for the majority of the day Wednesday to help ground crews by dropping water and retardant. along the southern edge of the fire. However, smoke from the East Troublesome Fire prevented flights in the late afternoon.
Areas of the fire previously burned through continue to smoke and smolder with occasional flames. This is expected to continue until there is a “season-ending weather event.” Most of these areas are not a threat to structures or containment.
A drop in temperatures and increase in humidity is expected to help firefighters to grow the containment in the next few days.
Forces in Branch I have been combined into Division D and continue monitoring fire behavior. The fire here remains inside secure containment lines. Division D is in patrol status, and six crews continue to remove equipment that is no longer needed. The power company continues to repair power infrastructure along Highway 14. Firefighters continue to monitor and mop-up hot spots; visible smoke from interior fuels burning is expected in the Bellaire Lake Campground area.
Excellent progress has been made in Branch II on the 44H Buckhorn and CR27 roads, where containment lines are nearly complete. Crews in Division T have completed the western portion of fireline near Boogie Woogie Way and continue to secure line in the area that burned north of 44H Buckhorn Road. Division V forces have been successful adding more containment line along CR27 and the southeast corner near Masonville. Aviation assisted Division U firefighters with water drops to reduce the interior heat of the Otter Road spot fire. Additional containment line has been constructed around the Otter Road spot fire, and crews continue to employ structure mitigation tactics.
Yesterday in Branch III, fire activity again increased across the southern perimeter. Firefighters in Division Y continue their mission of building direct line from CR27 west towards Cedar Park. Division X forces monitored the fire growth that occurred over the past several days from Bulwark Ridge towards CR43. Supervisors are scouting the best locations to construct direct line in the rough terrain to deflect fire from the Storm Mountain values at risk. Forces are working with aircraft on suppressing a thirty acre area of fire that crossed to the south of the North Fork Trail. Fire managers are evaluating the North Fork Trail as a key containment line and continue to focus on keeping the fire north of the trail. Night shift operations will continue work on the trail and take suppression actions as needed. The Incident Management Team continues to work with Rocky Mountain National Park fire managers to monitor fire activity in Divisions W and Z.
UPDATE (Oct. 22, 12:29 a.m.): The fire’s size increased slightly to 206,667 acres. Containment is at 55%.
UPDATE (Oct. 21, 11:42 a.m.): The incident management team at the Cameron Peak Fire says winds are expected to align with the drainages today, which could lead to an “active and challenging” situation.
In Branch I on the west and north sides of the fire, there are solid containment lines. Crews in Division A/D continue to monitor the fireline and remove equipment that is no longer needed. Hazardous tree removal is completed on Highway 14; the power company continues to repair lines and replace damaged poles. Division F/L/R isin patrol status. Firefighters continue mop-up efforts near Bellaire Lake Campground and monitoring and securing the fire’s edge.
Firefighters’ work is proving effective in Branch II on the 44H Buckhorn and CR27 roads, where containment lines are nearly complete. Aviation and hand crews in Division T remain working on the western portion of 44H, constructing direct and indirect line near Boogie Woogie Way. Division V forces continue to patrol CR27 and are taking advantage of lighter fuels in the SE corner of the fire to secure containment lines. Division U firefighters completed line around the Otter Road spot fire, including the NW corner. Containment of the spot fire is nearly complete and is represented by additional black line on the map. Helicopters supported firefighters with water drops in Divisions U and V.
Active fire behavior persists in Branch III. Structure Protection Groups and surge engines are providing point protection of structures. Division Y crews continue to build direct and indirect line from the southwest corner toward Cedar Park. High wind and turbulence above the drainages near Storm Mountain and The Retreat prevented helicopters from safely providing water drops yesterday. Firefighters in Division X continue to focus on structure protection and assessing options to hold the fire along the North Fork Trail. The Incident Management Team continues to work with Rocky Mountain National Park fire managers to monitor fire activity in Divisions W and Z.
UPDATE (Oct. 20, 9:46 p.m.): Critical fire weather will remain in the area tomorrow into Thursday.
A Red Flag Warning takes effect at noon tomorrow and lasts until 8 a.m. Thursday.
“Near critical condition will likely continue through the morning Thursday ahead of a cold front Thursday afternoon. Cold and windy weather expected for the rest of Thursday with increased humidity,” officials said.
The most recent size estimate is up slightly to 205,005 acres.
UPDATE (Oct. 20, 10:30 a.m.): Air support logged more than 60 hours if flight time over the Cameron Peak Fire Monday, the highest single-day amount since the fire began in mid-August. These drops primarily occurred on the southern perimeter near Glen Haven, The Retreat and Storm Mountain.
Ground crews are preparing for possible burnout operations along the containment line near 44H Buckhorn Road
Branch I north and east of Highway 14 is in patrol status, and crews are identifying and removing equipment that is no longer needed. Crews in Division A/D continue to monitor the containment line, and the power company continues to repair lines and replace damaged poles on Highway 14. Division F/L/R isin patrol status. Firefighters continue to monitor the fire’s edge along the Manhattan Road. Interior fuel that continues to burn inside the fire perimeter is being monitored by firefighters with a Skidgine (similar to a skidder with a water tank and pump) near the Bellaire Lake Campground.
In Branch II, theobjective is to keep the fire south of 44H Buckhorn Road and west of CR27. Heavy equipment and hand crews remain working in Division T to complete the containment line and secure the area that burned north of 44H Buckhorn Road. Division V forces continue to patrol CR27 and protect values at risk. Crews completed almost two miles of line from the SE corner west towards Cedar Park along the edge of an old burn scar. Aviation resources assisted Division U firefighters to secure the line and look for opportunities to complete direct and indirect line around the steep terrain in and near the NW corner of the spot fire.
Branch III firefighters made excellent progress securing the southern edge of the fire near the communities of Glen Haven, Storm Mountain, The Retreat, and Cedar Park. Clear skies allowed aviation resources to assist crews in Division X/Y to secure the southern edge of the fire. These water and retardant drops are key strategies in this steep terrain. The Incident Management Team continues to work with Rocky Mountain National Park fire managers to monitor fire activity in Divisions W and Z.
UPDATE (Oct. 19, 9:04 p.m.): Officials provided an update for the community Monday evening. The fire is at 204,404 acres with 51% containment.
Officials say there have been no lost structures in the last 24 hours and the last 48 hours have been good as far as growth.
UPDATE (Oct. 19, 6:33 p.m.): The mandatory evacuation for Highway 34 from the Dam Store to Soul Shine Road has been downgraded to voluntary. Officials say residents along the Highway 34 corridor may return home.
UPDATE (Oct. 19, 10:05 a.m.): Light winds and high humidity Sunday allowed firefighters to concentrate on securing a fire line on the eastern and southern edges of the recent fire growth. Four crews and heavy equipment built two lines in near Buckskin Heights with the goal of having that area contained today.
“We had a good opportunity with the weather (Sunday); good work was done,” said Incident Commander Dan Dallas.
Branch I north and east of Highway 14 is in patrol status. Coordination with the power company continues to replace lines and damaged power poles on Highway 14. Division A/D resources continue to monitor the direct line along the west and north perimeters. Division F/L/R isin patrol status. Firefighters continue to monitor the fire’s edge along Green Ridge, Bellaire Lake Campground, and mop-up around structures when safe. As the fuels dry out over the next several days, interior smoke will be visible.
In Branch II, theobjective is to keep the fire south of 44H Buckhorn Road and west of CR27. Dozers are working toward the east in Division T to meet crews building direct line from the Division T/V break. Heavy equipment and aviation assisted firefighters in Division V to construct fireline along 25E Road and Otter Road. Division U forces were reassigned to Branch II to assist with line construction around the spot fire.
Branch III firefighters concentrated on securing the southern edge of the fire and assessment of values at risk for Glen Haven, Storm Mountain, The Retreat, The Fall River Corridor, Estes Park, and Rocky Mountain National Park. Crews in Division X/Y work to secure the southern edge of the fire in steep terrain by utilizing existing trails and roads. Engines and firefighters continue to provide structure protection by removing fuels and constructing line. A Structure Group is aiding with damage assessment. Divisions W and Z lookouts in Rocky Mountain National Park continue to monitor for fire spread to the south.
UPDATE (Oct. 18, 10:15 a.m.): The fire expanded slightly Saturday and overnight, including a 2,400 acre spot fire about 1-mile east of the main fire near Buckskin Heights that expanded towards Masonville.
Because of moderate weather conditions, fire crews were able to use air support to help suppression efforts.
Branch I north and east of Highway 14 is in monitor status as crews continue to patrol the fire edge. Division A/D continues to be monitored and the containment has been well tested during heavy winds. Due to the low risk in this division, resources were temporarily allocated as initial attack for the new Calwood Fire start near Boulder, CO. Division F/L/R is in patrol status. Firefighters continue to patrol the Manhattan Rd to prevent the fire from moving to the east. Hazard tree mitigation work is continuing on Highway 14.
Branch II firefighters focused on holding fire south of the 44H Buckhorn Road. Division T crews will secure the section that burned north of 44H Buckhorn Road by building direct line with heavy equipment and tying into the old High Park fire scar. Structure protection, mitigation and assessment will continue as conditions allow. On the east side of the fire, crews in Division V will focus on structure protection and building indirect line along the 25E Road.
Branch III forces continue to work with local fire departments on structure assessments and point protection around the communities of Glen Haven, The Retreat, Cedar Park and Storm Mountain. The structure group is working on post fire assessments and mitigations. Additional structure engines are arriving in Division X. Firefighters were successful building dozer line and removing fuels to protect structures. Division U crews shifted to assist Division T as fire activity picked up. Crews will focus on values at risk near the spot fire and keeping the fire west of CR27. In Divisions W and Z where the fire encroached on Rocky Mountain National Park, lookouts continue to monitor for fire spread to the south.
UPDATE (Oct. 18, 9:25 a.m.): The Cameron Peak Fire is now at 203,253 acres, making it the largest wildfire in Colorado history by more than 60,000 acres. The second larges fire in state history is the Pine Gulch Fire, which burned about 139,000 acres earlier this summer and fall. The Pine Gulch Fire was considered 100% contained as of mid-September.
UPDATE (Oct. 17, 8:18 p.m.): Officials provided an update on the activity of the fire today and answered questions from concerned community members.
The fire increased due to wind but a cold front coming in tonight will hopefully shift the wind and settle it down a bit to reduce fire activity and allow officials to establish firelines.
UPDATE: (Oct. 17, 7:15 p.m.): The fire is burning 199,356 acres with 62% containment and 1,542 personnel working the fire.
UPDATE (Oct. 17, 3:54 p.m.): The Larimer Humane Society is offering temporary shelter for companion animals evacuated from Cameron Peak Fire.
UPDATE (Oct. 17, 3:45 p.m.): Officials have ordered mandatory evacuations for all of County Road 52E (Rist Canyon Road) from County Road 27 east to County Road 27E.
UPDATE (Oct. 17, 2:52 p.m.): Officials have ordered mandatory Evacuations for County Road 27 east to the Devils Backbone.
UPDATE (Oct. 17, 1:05 p.m.): Authorities have issued a new evacuation order for the area on the east side of Glade Road from north of Mildred Lane to north of Spring Canyon Ranch Road.
UPDATE (Oct. 17, 12:52 p.m.): Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith said the fire was “extremely active” last night but it did not grow as much as originally feared.
“Unfortunately, homes have been lost overnight, but so far nowhere near the number we feared. Crews were on scene overnight to monitor and respond as conditions dictated. I was very concerned about the potential for long distance spot fires to the East overnight, but that does not appear to have occurred at this time,” Smith wrote in a Facebook update.
UPDATE (Oct. 17, 9:46 a.m.): The fire grew about 14,000 acres compared to yesterday’s estimate.
It has now burned 187,537 acres — maintaining its status as the largest wildfire in Colorado history by a wide margin. The second-largest fire on record — Pine Gulch — scorched 139,007 acres this summer.
The Cameron Peak Fire remains 57% contained.
UPDATE (Oct. 16, 8:56 p.m.): Authorities have issued mandatory evacuations for Pinewood Reservoir to Flatiron Reservoir as well as County Road 29 to the west side of County Road 27 north of Highway 34. Residents should evacuate immediately.
Additionally, voluntary evacuation orders have been issued for County Road 27 to the Devils Backbone north of Highway 34.
UPDATE (Oct. 16, 7:54 p.m.): The fire grew by roughly 6,000 acres today to 173,576 acres. Containment increased by 1% to 57%.
A total of 1,330 people are assigned to fighting the fire.
UPDATE (Oct. 16, 6:21 p.m.): Officials have ordered voluntary evacuations for County Road 29 to the west side of County Road 27 north of Highway 34.
UPDATE (Oct. 16, 1 p.m.): US 34 will be closed to through traffic in the Big Thompson Canyon area to allow for evacuations.
“We ask that anyone who does not need to be on or around this area, stay away,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “There are a lot of people who need to get out of this area safely as this fire has escalated very quickly. Our main priority right now is on the safety of the residents, businesses and the crews and other first responders bravely battling this fire.”
UPDATE (Oct. 16, 12:45 p.m.): Cameron Peak Fire officials have ordered mandatory evacuations for Highway 34 from the Dam Store to just west of Soul Shine Road. Residents and business occupants in the area should evacuate the area due to immediate and imminent danger. Do not delay leaving to gather belongings or make efforts to protect your home or business. Evacuating immediately not only supports your safety, but also allows emergency crews better access to the area.
For updates, text the word LCEVAC to 888777 from your cell phone. The Larimer County Sheriff will communicate information to that key word as needed.
UPDATE (Oct. 16, 11:20 a.m.): Fire response teams have been divided into three different branches.
Branch I is in patrol and monitor status north and east of Highway 14. Safety issues and beetle-killed/fire-weakened trees along Highway 14 remain a concern.
Branch II crews were able to mostly hold the fire south of 44H Buckhorn Road, although there were about 1,000 acres north of the road that did burn yesterday. Air support was used to extinguish that portion of the fire. Today some crews are working along CR 27 to build a direct fire line. Structure protection is also a key focus in this area.
Branch III is a new branch in the southwest portion of the fire. The Retreat, Storm Mountain and Cedar Park are some of the areas where this team will focus on structure protection. Safety issues in this area include narrow roads with switchbacks that make it difficult to access with large engines.
The fire management team is worried that across the fire strong winds with gusts of 40+ miles per hour could lead to active fire conditions. If the winds from the west align with terrain it could lead to “crown fire runs.” A Red Flag Warning is in effect until 8 p.m. Saturday.
UPDATE (Oct. 15, 10:38 p.m.): Firefighting officials reminded the public that while they appreciate the tremendous support they have received, they do not need donations.
Officials instead recommended donating to one of the following groups:
Wildland Firefighter Foundation
UPDATE (Oct. 15, 7 p.m.): The fire has grown to 167,153 acres — an increase of roughly 3,000 acres compared to the previous estimate.
It remains 56% contained.
UPDATE (Oct. 15, 6:40 p.m.): The City of Fort Collins said that while the fire has pushed closer to the western side of Horsetooth Reservoir, there is little risk to residences within city limits.
UPDATE (Oct. 15, 3:30 p.m.): The United States Postal Service is warning that mail service in some areas has been curtailed due to the Cameron Peak Fire.
People served by the Drake, Glen Haven and Masonville post offices will need to pick up and drop off mail at other nearby post offices.
Masonville customers can pick up their mail at the Loveland Main Post Office, 446 E. 29th St. Loveland, CO 80538 during regular business hours, M-F 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Glen Haven and Drake customers can pick up their mail at the Estes Park Post Office, 215 W. Riverside Dr, Estes Park 80517 during regular business hours, M-F 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
UPDATE (Oct. 15, 3:15 p.m.): The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office has lifted some of the voluntary evacuations and downgraded some mandatory evacuations.
Downgraded from mandatory to voluntary: County Road 52E (Rist Canyon Road) from County Road 27 east to County Road 27E.
Voluntary evacuation lifted: Crystal Lakes, Red Feather Lakes, Lady Moon, Red Feather Highlands, and Hohnholz
UPDATE (Oct. 15, 12:15 p.m.): Due to recent fire activity and weather forecasts on the Cameron Peak Fire, closure areas in Rocky Mountain National Park have expanded in the northern section of the park.
Additional closures implemented today include the Lawn Lake Trail and surrounding area. The Cow Creek Trail, the Black Canyon Trail, the Gem Lake Trail and the Lumpy Ridge area were closed on Sunday, October 11, as well as associated cross country zones. Area closures began on August 18 in the northwest section of the park and continued in the northeast area of the park on September 7. Currently the northern part of Rocky Mountain National Park is closed to all recreational access. Old Fall River Road remains closed. Trail Ridge Road and other areas of the park remain open.
Closures in Rocky Mountain National Park, including a map, can be found at:
https://www.nps.gov/romo/learn/fire-information-and-regulations.htm
UPDATE (Oct. 15, 5:40 a.m.): The fire grew to 164,140 acres on Thursday morning, which is over 29,000 acres larger than it was on Wednesday. The fire is 56% contained.
UPDATE (Oct. 14, 10:26 p.m.): Power has been cut to the Buckskin Heights and Redstone Canyon areas. The Poudre Valley REA said it shut off power at the request of firefighting authorities.
UPDATE (Oct. 14, 7:48 p.m.): Officials said in a Facebook Live update that the Cameron Peak Fire has grown to 158,300 acres — an increase of more than 20,000 acres compared to yesterday — making it the largest wildfire in Colorado history.
The record was last broken just a few months ago, when the Pine Gulch Fire in western Colorado reached 139,007 acres.
The Cameron Peak Fire is 56% contained.
UPDATE (Oct. 14, 6:54 p.m.): Loveland residents are being asked to stop outdoor watering for the next “several days.”
The City says the suspension will end “when conditions allow.”
UPDATE (Oct. 14, 6:06 p.m.): As of yesterday, evacuees were being housed in two hotels. As of 5:30 p.m. today, due to the large increase in the number of evacuees, six hotels are being used and a seventh is on standby.
UPDATE (Oct. 14, 3:50 p.m.): Lory State Park is being evacuated immediately because of the Cameron Peak Fire.
Lory State Park is under voluntary evacuation orders from Cameron Peak Fire officials, but CPW officials made the call for an evacuation of the park in consideration of the safety of visitors and staff. Staff is working to alert any visitors inside the park of the immediate evacuation order – at midday there were only four to five vehicles in the park as visitation has remained low due to the unhealthy smoke conditions. The 135,000-plus acre Cameron Peak Fire is not currently burning on state park grounds.
UPDATE (Oct. 14, 3:48 p.m.): The American Red Cross of Colorado continues to provide services for those who have been affected by the Cameron Peak Fire. As more and more mandatory evacuations are ordered, the Red Cross has set up a designated phone line for people who have been displaced by the fire.
Please call 800-417-0495 for the latest updates. As information changes, the Red Cross will update this message, so please call back for the newest information.
UPDATE (Oct. 14, 3:30 p.m.): US 34 is closed in both directions between Dry Gulch Road and County Road 27 because of the Cameron Peak Fire. This closure is between mile markers 65 and 85.
UPDATE (Oct. 14, 2:50 p.m.): Cameron Peak Fire officials have ordered voluntary evacuations for Highway 34 from Drake to just west of the Dam Store. Voluntary evacuations are advised for residents and business occupants if they are concerned for their safety, feel they need additional time to exit the area, or have health conditions that may be aggravated by this incident. You are encouraged to move livestock and pets out of the area and to prepare for mandatory evacuations.
UPDATE (Oct. 14, 2:45 p.m.): More mandatory evacuations: Bobcat Ridge Natural Area, Masonville, Horsetooth Mountain Park/Overhill Dr/Milner Mountain, County Road 52E (Rist Canyon Road) from County Road 27 east to County Road 27E (all of Rist Canyon including Stratton Park).
UPDATE (Oct. 14, 2:00 p.m.): Mandatory evacuations have been expanded again as strong winds continue across Colorado.
The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office has issued a mandatory evacuation order for Redstone Canyon.
“Residents and business occupants in the Redstone Canyon area should evacuate immediately and as quickly as possible. Do not delay leaving to gather belongings or make efforts to protect your home or business.”
UPDATE (Oct. 14, 10:55 a.m.): Incident managers said there are two primary areas of concern today – A spot fire that has established on the northeast end of the fire and an area near the CSU Mountain Campus where the fire has pushed east several miles.
That second area of concern is in the Buckhorn Drainage where the fire is moving towards Stove Prairie. Fire personnel are working on structure protection as conditions allow, but strong winds could create a dangerous situation.
UPDATE (Oct. 14, 10:15 a.m.): The American Red Cross has set up a second number to call for shelter assistance. Call 970-481-1243 or 970-324-3211.
UPDATE (Oct. 14, 8 a.m.): Satellite Imagery continues to show Cameron Peak fire burning intensely due to strong winds affecting it. Gusts from 50 to 60 mph have been occurring. Please be alert for any evacuation orders.
UPDATE (Oct. 14, 7 a.m.): Cameron Peak Fire officials have upgraded from voluntary evacuations to mandatory evacuations for County Road 27 (the Buckhorn Road) from County Road 44H south to Masonville due to immediate and imminent danger. Evacuate the area immediately and as quickly as possible. Do not delay leaving to gather belongings or make efforts to protect your home or business. Evacuating immediately not only supports your safety, but also allows emergency crews better access to the area. For updates, text the word LCEVAC to 888777 from your cell phone. We will communicate information to that key word as needed. To view a map of these areas, please visit nocoalert.org.
UPDATE (Oct. 13, 8:10 p.m.): Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for County Road 44H from Pennock Pass east to County Road 27.
To see the latest map of mandatory and voluntary evacuations, visit NoCoAlert’s website.
UPDATE (Oct. 13, 10:29 a.m.): Fire crews spent Monday completing a “significant” portion of containment line along the northern edge of the fire.
Incident managers said that while the entire northern edge is contained, there will still be patrols in the area to monitor fire activity.
Today is expected to bring more dry winds to the fire area creating near critical fire weather. Firefighters are continuing to patrol and work on structure protection in the Monument Gulch and Buckhorn Road areas.
Today will be the final day for the Northwest Team 6 at the fire. A transition to Rocky Basin Type 1 is underway with the formal handover taking place at 7 a.m. tomorrow.
UPDATE (Oct. 13, 8:35 a.m.): The incident management team at the Cameron Peak Fire said they now have more than half of the fire contained and are at 56% of the total perimeter.
A full update with details, including what crews did yesterday and what is expected today, is usually released around 10 a.m.
UPDATE (Oct. 12, 10:15 a.m.): Colorado State University says that all of the buildings at its Mountain Campus were spared as the Cameron Peak Fire passed through over the weekend.
UPDATE (Oct. 11, 10:35 p.m.): Fire behavior was slower than expected today due to cloud cover, lower temperatures, less wind, and snow in the higher elevations.
Monday will return to drier conditions with sunny skies, winds 30-40 mph on the ridges and relative humidities in the 20% range. Fire acreage this evening is 134,559 and containment is 47%.
UPDATE (Oct. 10, 12:44 p.m.): Mandatory evacuations have been downgraded to voluntary evacuations in the following areas: Crystal Lakes, Red Feather Lakes, Lady Moon and Red Feather Highlands.
To see the latest map of mandatory and voluntary evacuations, visit NoCoAlert’s website.
UPDATE (Oct. 9, 10:41 p.m.): The fire grew more than 2,000 acres today amid hot, dry conditions. The overall acreage is now at 133,884.
The fire is 44% contained.
“Elevated fire weather conditions are anticipated through Saturday,” officials said in an update.
A cold front arrives Sunday.
UPDATE (Oct. 9, 8:20 a.m.): Cameron Peak Fire officials have ordered mandatory evacuations for County Road 44H (the Buckhorn Road) to County Road 27 (the Stove Prairie Road) for residents and business occupants in the area due to increased fire activity and immediate and imminent danger. Evacuate the area immediately and as quickly as possible. Do not delay leaving to gather belongings or make efforts to protect your home or business. Evacuating immediately not only supports your safety, but also allows emergency crews better access to the area. For updates, text the word LCEVAC to 888777 from your cell phone. We will communicate information to that key word as needed. Please do not call 9-1-1 unless you are in danger.
UPDATE (Oct. 9, 6:15 a.m.): The Cameron Peak fire officials have ordered Mandatory Evacuations for Pingree Park/Monument Gulch area residents and business occupants due to immediate and imminent danger. Evacuate the area immediately and as quickly as possible. Do not delay leaving to gather belongings or make efforts to protect your home or business. Evacuating immediately not only supports your safety, but also allows emergency crews better access to the area. For updates, text the word LCEVAC to 888777 from your cell phone. We will communicate information to that key word as needed. Please do not call 9-1-1 unless you are in danger.
UPDATE (Oct. 8, 9:42 p.m.): The fire has grown to 131,231 acres — an increase of about 2,000 acres from the last estimate. It remains the third-largest wildfire in Colorado history after the Pine Gulch (2020) and Hayman (2002) fires.
Containment has also increased; it is up to 44% — in increase of 2% compared to yesterday.
UPDATE (Oct. 8, 10:05 a.m.): The Cameron Peak Fire currently has a perimeter of about 240 miles, so while incident managers say full containment will take a while, they are making progress.
Today firefighters will continue to use aerial ignition technology to create burn lines and reinforce the existing lines.
Today a Red Flag Warning means firefighters are on alert and have plans in place to focus on and hold existing fire lines.
UPDATE (Oct. 7, 9:14 p.m.): Authorities have downgraded the evacuation status of Glacier View from mandatory to voluntary.
“Residents in the Glacier View filings may return home. Please be sure to have proper identification to show residency in those areas that were mandatory evacs, as only residents will be allowed to enter. We ask that you use caution when driving through the area, as emergency crews are still present,” officials said.
A map of current evacuation areas can be found online.
UPDATE (Oct. 7, 12:15 p.m.): The incident management team for the Cameron Peak is planning to do aerial ignition on the Long Draw section of the fire.
This means helicopters and drones will drop ping-pong size balls that contain flammable liquid that will ignite shortly after landing.
The goal of these controlled burns is to secure the fire line.
Similar Dragon Egg aerial burns were conducted at the Grizzly Creek Fire earlier this year.
UPDATE (Oct. 6, 10:55 p.m.): Humidity dropped into the single digits today. More challenging firefighting conditions are ahead, as dry and warm weather will remain in the region through the end of this week.
“By Sunday, stronger southwesterly winds will affect the fire area ahead of a cold front,” officials said in an update.
UPDATE (Oct. 5, 10:12 a.m.): Firefighters continue mopping up needed areas and securing firelines. Winds have calmed today but dry conditions will allow for active fire behavior.
Crews will work on a new north spot, strengthening with water line. Engines will patrol and mop up around structures in the Elkhorn and Kinikinik areas. Efforts will focus on holding the fire off at Long Draw and above Comanche Reservoir.
Between the Cameron Peak and Mullen Fires, there will be smoky air with an Air Quality Warning in place.
UPDATE (Oct. 5, 11:14 p.m.): Fire behavior today was active with short wind driven runs, torching, and spotting as the main methods of fire spread, officials reported.
The most active area of the fire was the mid-interior. There was growth on the northern perimeter due to winds.
The potential of the fire to spread remains very high with little change in forecast weather conditions over the next three days.
UPDATE (Oct. 5,10:30 a.m.): Incident managers at the Cameron Peak Fire say most of the containment lines held over the weekend, but there was some spotting beyond the northern perimeter near the 333A road. Fire behavior analysts predict more extreme fire conditions for today.
Crews are working to secure lines and mop up where possible. The top priority for aircraft will be the north line followed by preventative drops in areas to the west-northwest of Comanche Reservoir.
UPDATE (Oct. 4, 7:07 p.m.): The fire did not grow much today and is burning 126,251 acres. Crews have increased containment to 42%.
Strong west winds are expected tonight with gusts up to 40 to 50 mph just after midnight. A Red Flag Warning is in effect through Monday evening.
UPDATE (Oct. 4, 9:44 a.m.): Firefighters will continue adding water to the northern perimeter while addressing the heat along the southern perimeter.
Fire officials state, “Crews will remain alert as the day progresses to the predicted wind shift and increasing wind gusts that will build to 40 mph well after dark. These winds will challenge the crews working through the night. “
UPDATE (Oct. 3, 10:07 p.m.): The containment on the fire rose to 40% as the acreage grew to 126,164.
Fire behavior was generally moderate today with isolated areas of active fire behavior from the interior and southern portions of the fire. Cooler temperatures, higher relative humidity and relatively light wind combined with light drift smoke to moderate overall fire activity.
UPDATE (Oct. 3, 2 p.m.): Firefighting crews are focusing on securing the perimeter of the fire today.
“The predicted variable winds will be light and peak burning hours will decrease to five hours allowing for continued success,” officials said in an update. “Crews will provide structure protection around the values at risk. Firefighters hope to secure more line before the predicted increase in fire behavior tests it on Monday.”
UPDATE (Oct. 2, 10:48 p.m.): The fire grew several hundred acres today to 125,598. However, firefighters also managed to increase containment to 38% — up from 34% yesterday.
Officials said fire behavior was generally active today. Cooler temperatures and higher humidity levels are expected tomorrow.
UPDATE (Oct. 2, 10:30 a.m.): Crews at the Cameron Peak Fire are conducting “search and destroy” missions to find hot spots and prevent them from growing along the fire’s perimeter, specifically along the north and northeast edges.
Firefighters will continue this work today and through the weekend. Structure protection remains a high priority
Dry fuels combined with afternoon winds may result in increased fire activity, but the cloud and smoke cover should moderate that behavior.
UPDATE (Oct. 1, 10:51 p.m.): Containment of the fire grew to 34% today. Total estimated acreage increased slightly to 125,271.
Smoke from the nearby Mullen Fire helped moderate fire behavior today, officials said.
UPDATE (Oct. 1, 2:41 p.m.): Cameron Peak Fire officials lifted the voluntary evacuation for County Road 44H from County Road 27 to Pennock Pass. Caution should be taken as fire crews will remain in the area.
Officials report the roadblock on County Road 44H has been moved to the Buckhorn Ranger Station in the 32,000 block, which is at the intersection of County Road 44H and Forest Road 100.
UPDATE (Oct. 1, 10:45 a.m.): Heavy equipment and firefighters worked in tandem to on the fire’s perimeter to close up any gaps, specifically a 9-mile gape on the north side of the fire.
Burn operations took place near Kinikinik to eliminate fuels and protect structures in the area.
Today, the plan will be to “build on yesterday’s successes,” according to incident managers. This includes further work on the firelines around the perimeter and more structure protection.
UPDATE (Sept. 30, 11 p.m.): Containment of the fire has increased to 30% — up from the last estimate of 22%.
Cooler temperatures and relatively high humidity levels are expected to help firefighting efforts on Thursday.
UPDATE (Sept. 30, 3:15 p.m.): Gov. Polis spend time at the Cameron Peak Fire incident command Wednesday, to talk and learn about the efforts being used to contain it.
“The Cameron Peak Fire is the third largest in our state’s history and still growing. I applaud the efforts of the brave men and women who are working to slow and contain the spread of this fire, all while during a global pandemic,” said Governor Jared Polis. “Colorado is facing severe drought and climate induced wildfires are directly impacting people’s lives, displacing Coloradans from their homes or destroying them and creating poor air quality. We continue monitoring the situation, providing help and support from the state, and working with our local partners to protect our communities.”
The Cameron Peak Fire is currently the third largest wildfire in Colorado history. All 20 of the largest fires in the state have occurred since 2000.
UPDATE (Sept. 30, 10:20 a.m.): Fire crews are working on the west side of the Cameron Peak Fire to burn out fuel along Highway 14 and construct a fire line. They also spent time Tuesday reinforcing the fire line along the northwestern fingers of the fire.
Today, firefighters will continue working around the perimeter. Managers have identified a trail above Comanche Reservoir that will all for access and a place to do burnouts to defend that side of the fire.
Firefighters are expecting increased activity today as fuel continues to dry out.
UPDATE (Sept. 29, 10:56 p.m.): The fire damaged or destroyed 41 structures late last week, according to the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office. That figure is in addition to the 54 structures the fire destroyed earlier this month.
Property owners with confirmed damage have been notified.
According to the sheriff’s office, the 41 structures are in the following areas:
- Highway 14 between the Fish Hatchery and Rustic – Five residential structures and eight other structures were destroyed.
- Manhattan Road area – Two residential structures and five other structures were destroyed. One other structure sustained major damage.
- Boy Scout Ranch Road area – One residential structure, one other structure, and 17 business structures were destroyed. One business structure sustained major damage. The business structures belong to the Shambhala Mountain Center.
o Other structures include outbuildings and structures without a designation in the assessor database.
o None of the residential structures were primary residences
“LCSO is working with the fire incident management team on plans to allow owners with damage/loss to safely return to their property,” the sheriff’s office said.
The fire has burned 125,006 acres and is 22% contained.
UPDATE (Sept. 29, 10:30 a.m.): Cool temperatures Monday following a hard freeze allowed firefighters at the Cameron Peak Fire to reinforce fire lines around the northeastern fingers of the fire.
Further west, near the fish hatchery, crews burned out fuels to lower the risks of flare ups. Firefighters are continuing to work around the at-risk structures and mopping up after spot fires.
Today, structure protection remains a high priority and special attention will be given to some areas of the fire’s perimeter that are harder to reach.
UPDATE (Sept. 28, 7:57 p.m.): The Damage Assessment Team (DAT) notified all owners with known structure damage of the status of their property. There were 39 properties affected since the last update, 37 were destroyed and two have major damage. Six of the 39 were residential.
The fire grew about 100 acres, according to Incident Commander Dave Gesser.
UPDATE (Sept. 28, 11:15 a.m.): Firefighters are planning to take advantage of the cooler temperatures and decreased wind to make progress on containing the Cameron Peak Fire.
Overnight, crews worked to burn fuel ahead of the fire in two northern fingers of the fire. The burnout is being followed by heavy equipment clearing to create a fireline along the active front.
The Pacific Northwest Incident Management Team 6 arrived overnight and will be shadowing for the day before taking over command tomorrow.
UPDATE (Sept. 27, 10:24 p.m.): Officials said fire personnel are still working through damaged structures and will hopefully contact owners early tomorrow.
A new team will be coming in to take over operations at the Cameron Peak Fire. Incident Commander Dave Gesser explained the rotation is to allow personnel to rest and be with their families.
The most updated acreage is 124,026 with 21% containment and 815 personnel.
UPDATE (Sept. 27, 6:03 p.m.): FOX31’s Rachel Skytta was in Livermore covering the latest on the fire and what officials said about conditions. ⬆️
Officials conducted a live update from the Incident Command and Operations at 7:30 p.m. ⬇️
Crews started restoring power to some areas. They hope to have everything north of the Red Feather Lakes road and some of the extreme lower parts of Glacier View back on by nightfall.
Now burning 124,021 acres, the fire is still at 25% containment. Some pictures below from crews assessing damage and restoring power from the Cameron Peak Fire Facebook page.
UPDATE (Sept. 27, 8:44 a.m.): Cooler temperatures and decreasing winds are expected today. After the past two difficult days, firefighters say this is a welcome change.
Firefighting efforts will focus heavily on protecting structures at risk.
UPDATE (Sept. 26, 8:00 p.m.): Planning Operations Trainee Cory Carlson said the fire is now at 120,251 acres.
Carlson said the fire made a significant run across Manhattan Road and along the Hwy 14 corridor. He said there was a successful burnout in the Rustic area.
Crews battled all day long to keep the fire from becoming worse than it could have been, Carlson said.
Carlson said there was an impact on the Shambala area but did not have a report. The fire stayed south of Red Feather and with sustained winds of 55 mph, Carlson said it was a fairly successful day.
The Red Cross evacuation center is located at: La Porte-Cache Poudre Middle School Gymnasium, 3515 Co Road 54G, Laporte.
FOX31’s Rachel Skytta was on scene with video (above) of the efforts being made. ⬆️
UPDATE (Sept. 26, 2:51 p.m.): RMACC says the Cameron Peak Fire has now reached 119,166 acres and is officially the third largest wildfire in Colorado history. The fire is at 25% containment with 839 personnel assigned.
New structure damage has been confirmed along HWY14 between the Fish Hatchery and Rustic, according to officials. The fire is still too active for the assessment team to access the area.
Watch video from above of the advancement of the fire. High winds and gusts are creating excessive fire activity and causing air travel over the fire to be turbulent.
UPDATE (Sept. 25, 4:08 p.m.): A Red Cross shelter has been set up at the La Porte-Cache Poudre Middle School Gymnasium, 3515 Co Road 54G, Laporte.
Fire activity picked up on the Cameron Peak Fire today. Check out the satellite imaging of the fire to see just how much activity was happening.
UPDATE (Sept. 25, 1:45 p.m.): New mandatory evacuations have been issued for the Glacier View filings, Red Feather Highlands subdivision and the Lady Moon area.
“Evacuating immediately not only supports your safety, but also allows emergency crews better access to the area,” the Larimer County Sheriff said.
UPDATE (Sept. 25, 9:20 a.m.): A red flag warning is in effect today which could create extreme conditions and, according to incident managers, means a “heads up” day for firefighters on the ground.
The northernmost portion of the fire. Helicopters and air tankers were used to assist ground crews who are extinguishing hot spots and building fire lines.
Incident managers say there is very little activity in Rocky Mountain National Park.
UPDATE (Sept. 24, 7:14p.m.): Credentials are being offered to residents who live in the following areas under voluntary evacuation orders: Glacier View, Lady Moon and Magic Sky Ranch. Credentials are also being offered to people under mandatory evacuation orders, according to the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office.
The credentials will be distributed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Cache La Poudre Middle School in Laporte.
More information is available on the sheriff’s office website.
UPDATE (Sept. 24, 11:15 a.m.): Heavy equipment will be operating today in the area dubbed the “thumb” to connect containment lines and open some roads.
East of Comanche Reservoir, crews are also using heavy equipment to build containment lines, in conjunction with helicopter bucket drops if necessary.
UPDATE (Sept. 23, 10:46 p.m.): Containment has increased significantly, from 17% to 27%.
Estimated acreage grew slightly to 104,791.
Fire weather increases Thursday due to “dryness, instability, breezy and warm conditions,” officials said.
Warm, dry weather will continue Friday.
UPDATE (Sept. 23, 10:15 a.m.): Overnight crews continued to work on a fire line near the 517 road. According to managers, working after dark means cooler temperatures and less wind, which creates better conditions for burn operations. The goal of this burn is to direct the fire down toward the highway.
Throughout the day today, helicopters and air tankers will be used throughout the day to drop water and flame retardant.
Surge forces and structure protection are prepared in the Crystal Lakes and Red Feather Lakes areas.
Fire managers say the team is making progress and additional containment was added to the perimeter on the southeast corner near Buckhorn.
UPDATE (Sept. 22, 10:54 p.m.): Officials say firefighters are “working day and night” from the ground and air to fight the fire.
“Working during the night buys time as cooler temperatures and less wind moderate fire behavior. The strategy is to pinch off the head of the fire with direct lines on the flanks,” officials said.
As of today, its acreage stands at 104,652. It is 17% contained.
UPDATE (Sept. 22, 10:36 a.m.): Fire officials have lifted the voluntary evacuations for Glen Haven, the Glen Haven Retreat, Storm Mountain, and County Road 43.
Check out the updated evacuation map:
UPDATE (Sept. 22, 9:05 a.m.): The area west of Manhattan Road will remain the most active today, and the plan is to continue working with aerial resources and heavy equipment.
Structure protection efforts are underway in Crystal Lakes and Red Feather Lakes will continue to be ready if needed.
The elevated fire conditions this week continue to be hazardous because of potential outflow winds.
UPDATE (Sept. 21, 10:15 a.m.): Incident managers say the Cameron Peak fire has burned into flatter terrain, which will give firefighters a better chance to directly engage the flames along the edge.
The management team also said this landscape is better conditions for the use of air support including tankers and helicopters that can drop water and retardant.
An indirect fire control line along Deadman and Manhattan road was created previously for exactly this type of event, managers say.
The northern, southern and wester portions of the fire are expected to remain less active.
UPDATE (Sept. 21, 8:23 a.m.): South Metro Brush 33 with a crew of 4 personnel joined firefighters from across the front range to assist with the #cameronpeakfire in Larimer County this morning.
UPDATE (Sept. 21, 7:33 a.m.): There is a new roadblock at CR74E (Red Feather Lakes Rd) and CR37.
UPDATE (Sept. 20, 8:33 p.m.): According to officials, as of about 7:45 p.m. the fire moderated quite a bit after the sun went down, temperatures dropped, relative humidity increased and the wind decreased.
When the fire blazed up making an almost two and a half mile run earlier today, authorities took precautions with evacuations and safety measures with personnel.
“We put some folks up on the Deadman Road. Basically we just got in position to implement any structure protection for the communities of Red Feather and Crystal Lakes should we need to do that,” Cory Carlson, Planning Operations Trainee said.
UPDATE (Sept. 20, 7:50 p.m.): The fire grew 1,561 acres and is now at 104,157 acres with 779 personnel working on it.
Gusty winds from the southwest this afternoon caused the fire to become very active on the northwest perimeter, often referred to as the “thumb” of the fire and firefighters were pulled back to their safety zones.
The fire moved eastward crossing the Killpecker line and near Middle Bald Mountain.
Officials reported: “The indirect lines along the Deadman and Manhattan Roads were developed in preparation for this type of event.
Aircraft are being used to drop water and retardant to slow down the fire spread.”
The Red Cross set up an evacuation site at La Porte-Cache Poudre Middle School Gymnasium, 3515 Co Road 54G, Laporte shortly after they were issued.
Voluntary evacuations for Glacier View filings, the Lady Moon area, and Magic Sky Ranch area were ordered this afternoon.
UPDATE (Sept. 20, 3:53 p.m.): Check out this infrared map showing the activity on the fire:
UPDATE (Sept. 20, 3:14 p.m.): Larimer County issued mandatory evacuations for the Red Feather Lakes and Crystal Lakes areas.
UPDATE (Sept. 20, 3:04 p.m.): Wind from storms moving through the fire area increased activity on Saturday. Helicopter drops helped keep the fire at bay when 15-30 mph winds came through. Similar conditions are expected on Sunday. The storms are not bringing much moisture over the fire. The majority of firefighters will monitor firelines on the north and northwest sides.
Officials released the latest evacuation map on Sunday:
The latest map of the fire:
UPDATE (Sept. 19, 9:49 p.m.): Fire officials have spoken about the danger of drone use in the area of a fire. Air Operations Branch Director Dan Sullivan explains aircraft coordination at the fire and how dangerous unauthorized drones can be.
Check out the map of the flight paths for air operations:
UPDATE (Sept. 19, 2:16 p.m.): Fire conditions today mirror those of yesterday, officials said.
Ground and air crews concentrated efforts on Green Ridge along Highway 14, where the fire was active.
A storm system moving into the area today will bring breezy conditions, thunderstorms and the potential for dry lightning. Winds will increase on Sunday.
“As weather and fire activity allows, firefighters will continue building direct fire lines where it is safe, monitoring existing lines, and continue with contingency preparations around communities and subdivisions in proximity to the fire,” officials said.
UPDATE (Sept. 18, 10:58 p.m.): A high pressure system will remain over the area until tomorrow, when a storm system will bring the possibility of thunderstorms.
UPDATE (Sept. 18, 9:20 a.m.): Today’s weather, which Cameron Peak Fire meteorologists called “a typical September day,” will cause smoke to settle and be visible in the communities around the fire.
Fire behavior and firefighting efforts are expected to be nearly identical to yesterday, with a heavy focus on constructing fire lines to prevent growth and protect nearby subdivisions.
The northwest corner is expected to be most active with multiple crews and helicopters fighting the fire as conditions allow.
Some areas of the Araphoe and Roosevelt national forests have reopened because of limited fire activity nearby.
The general area now closed is all National Forest System lands west of County Road 67J and County Road 27; east of the Colorado State Forest State Park; south of County Road 80C; and north of Rocky Mountain Park.
UPDATE (Sept. 17, 11 p.m.): Containment of the fire has increased from 8% to 15%. Nearly 1,000 people remain assigned to fighting it.
UPDATE (Sept. 17, 10:05 a.m.): Firefighters are starting to prepare for the weekend when they expect fire lines to be tested.
This week’s dry conditions combined with expected gusty winds from thunderstorms could create erratic conditions.
Following the storm, higher humidity and lower temperatures are expected to lower temperatures.
UPDATE (Sept. 16, 9:15 a.m.): Dry fuels, warm temperatures and low humidity are expected to lead to an increase in fire activity today and for the next few days, fire managers said in their morning update.
Firefighters will spend today working in and around communities to protect buildings near the fire’s edge.
Mire firefighters will be shifted to “the thumb” where fire activity has been especially high in the past few days.
High pressure will last into the weekend when a storm is expected to move in from the south that could bring thunderstorms.
UPDATE (Sept. 15, 10:52 p.m.): Containment of the fire has increased to 8%. More than 1,000 people are still assigned to fighting it, according to officials.
UPDATE (Sept. 15, 1:03 p.m.): The fire remains at 102,596 acres with 4% containment. Good progress was made on direct fire lines along the Buckhorn Road to Comanche Reservoir, Pingree Park Road, Highway 14 and the section of fire above Highway 14 (the Thumb) despite the rugged terrain and distance required for line construction.
Officials say the Thumb and Rocky Mountain National Park had hot spots and flare ups in the last 24 hours. The Buckhorn Road and Comanche Lake section of fire line to prevent perimeter growth from the anticipated northwesterly wind event will have extra resources.
Air operations will continue supporting ground crews as needed, focusing on the most active areas of the fire where hot spots have been observed and fire activity is picking up.
UPDATE (Sept. 15, 8:45 a.m.): Some of the voluntary evacuations caused by the Cameron Peak Fire have been lifted.
According to the Larimer County Sheriff, people who live in the Glacier View area can return to their homes. They are advised to use caution while driving through the area.
UPDATE (Sept. 14, 10:15 a.m.): Warm weather and sunny skies have contributed to the continued snow melt in the Cameron Peak Fire area, which means areas that were for a short time not at risk of burning are now drying out.
However, the snow from last week gave firefighters the opportunity to construct direct firelines along Buckhorn Road to Comanche reservoir. Indirect fireline construction also took place near the Crystal Lakes, Red feather and Glacier View subdivisions.
Today, firefighters will focus on continued fire line construction in anticipation of a northwesterly wind predicted for Tuesday. Surge forces will be focused on the Buckhorn/Pingree Park area for this reason.
UPDATE (Sept. 13, 10:25 p.m.): An additional 64 firefighters have been added to the total personnel working on the fire. Officials discussed what they look at and how they anticipate the fire’s movement.
“The lodgepole itself, when it burns, it usually confines itself to a patch that burns and expands out. But when we get that kind of winds behind it, it moves quite rapidly. We had some 4-8 mile runs of where it did move through that lodgepole pine,” Cameron Peak Fire Behavior Analyst Robb Beery said.
The snow helped put didn’t put the fire out. The fire is burning large trees but the precipitation did help put out the grass fires and smaller stuff burning, Beery said.
Places where the heavier fuel is, he said, will be smoking as the temperatures rise and the area dries out.
“This fire will be smoking and will be active interior until we get sustained storms on top of it,” Beery said.
The latest interactive evacuation map has been posted:
UPDATE (Sept. 13, 4:30 p.m.): The fire did not grow and containment remains at 4%. Fire activity will be minimal on Sunday, allowing firefighters to continue building direct fire line on the west, north and east sides of the fire edge.
Precautionary measures are being taken to work on structure protection and indirect fire line in Crystal Lakes, Red Feather, and Glacier View subdivisions. Estes Park and surrounding communities, structures are being assessed to establish a defensive plan.
The fire is still smoldering in many areas around Pingree Park and Monument Gulch. That is making it unsafe for crews to work and complete a full assessment.
UPDATE (sept. 12, 11: 19 p.m.): Power was restored to the Highway 14 corridor.
UPDATE (Sept. 12, 6:18 p.m.): According to authorities, 54 structures were destroyed by the fire. Twenty-five were residential and 29 were outbuildings, an additional two structures were damaged but not destroyed. All property owners with known damage to structures were contacted.
Officials say “there may be additional outbuildings with damage that were not located, but we are not aware of any other reported residential structure damage inside the fire perimeter.”
“The snow was certainly welcome and made an impact on the fire, but it also slowed the assessment process. Many people worked very hard to access these areas, complete assessments, and get word to the owners with damage as quickly as possible. I can only imagine how devastating the loss of a home or property to wildfire must be. Our thoughts and prayers are with you,” Sheriff Justin Smith said.
UPDATE (Sept. 12, 11:48 a.m.): Fire activity was minimal yesterday. However, crews are concerned about possible flare-ups in the coming days, as infrared data showed “a significant number” of hot spots.
“Crews continue to surge resources and focus on building direct line along the fire’s edge in the Buckhorn and Pingree Park area, along Highway 14, and mopping up hot spots,” officials said.
The portion of the fire in Rocky Mountain National Park received 6 inches of snow yesterday, allowing firefighters to focus their efforts elsewhere.
“Firefighter and public safety continued to be the top priority as firefighters contend with slippery roads and slopes, rolling debris, and fire weakened trees. The week ahead is expected to be increasing hot and dry with smoke and flames becoming more visible,” officials said.
The Southwest Area Incident Management Team 3 took command of the fire today, giving the Rocky Mountain Team Black time to rest and allowing the Portland NIMO team to return to the Pacific Northwest to fight major fires there.
UPDATE (Sept. 11, 1:14 p.m.): Power is still disabled in some areas but has been restored in others.
UPDATE (Sept. 11, 12:16 p.m.): The Cameron Peak Fire remains at 102,596 acres and 4% contained. Snow and rain earlier this week has kept fire behavior to a minimum, but activity is expected to increase as conditions begin to dry.
The Southwest Area Incident Management Team 3 will assume command of the fire on Saturday. The Portland NIMO team and Rocky Mountain Team Black are rotating off of the incident to prepare for their next assignments.
UPDATE (Sept. 10, 10:51 p.m.): Up to 2 inches of additional snow is possible on western portions of the fire overnight. Winds will be gusty on Friday with highs in the 50s expected.
UPDATE (Sept. 10, 10:45 a.m.): Smoke and fire activity is expected to remain low for the next few days as snow melt continues to keep the area damp.
Because of this, the air quality impact is expected to be minimal, however smoke from other fires in the western part of the country will continue to flow into our area.
After the uptick in activity over the past weekend, an increase in personnel has been called in to help control the fire and about 1,200 people are now active.
UPDATE (Sept. 9, 10:05 p.m.): Two days of snow doesn’t mean the Cameron Peak Fire is out.
Far from it. That’s the message from firefighters in Larimer County.
Fire officials admit the 8-to-14 inches of snow over the fire perimeter, did help. They also acknowledged the moisture was responsible for power loss, downed trees and some impassable roads.
Authorities also said some structures have been lost, over the past couple of days. Thankfully, no, new evacuation orders have been issued. The Cameron Peak Fire has consumed more than 100,000 acres. It remains only 4% contained.
UPDATE (Sept. 9, 8:28 p.m.): Officials say no new evacuation orders or road closures have been issued today.
Tomorrow and Friday, credentials for residents in current mandatory evacuation areas will be offered at Cache La Poudre Middle School from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. Full details are available on Larimer County’s website.
Currently, 1,057 people are assigned to fighting the fire.
UPDATE (Sept. 9, 11:46 a.m.): The predicted cold front moved into the area bringing with it high humidity, precipitation and a north-east wind which abruptly stopped the eastward progress of the fire. Precipitation in the form of snow blanketed the fire area with an accumulation of 8-14 inches of heavy, wet snow which made travel difficult off of main roads. Fire activity will be diminished today due to low temperatures and precipitation.
UPDATE (Sept. 8, 10:46 p.m.): Snow fell on the fire today. Some areas received 5 inches of heavy, wet snow, according to officials.
Humidity levels are not expected to drop as quickly as they did during the last round of precipitation, which occurred last week.
Evacuation orders have been lifted for the following areas: Highway 14 from Stove Prairie to Gateway Park, County Road 52E (Rist Canyon Road) to include Davis Ranch Road and Whale Rock Road east to County Road 27E, and County Road 27 south from County Road 44H down to Masonville and east to include Buckskin Heights.
To see the latest map of mandatory and voluntary evacuations, visit NoCoAlert’s website.
UPDATE (Sept. 8, 11:05 a.m.): Yesterday’s winds spread the fire across indirect fire lines at Pingree Park eastward. The wind also grounded aircraft, which made fighting the fire more difficult.
The Type 2 Southwest Area Incident Management Team No. 3 was brought in yesterday and took command of the south zone of the fire as of 6 a.m. today. They will focus on the portion of the fire within Rocky Mountain National Park.
Across the fire, crews plan to take advantage of today’s weather to assess the effects of the fire and suppress hot spots. They will also look for areas where new fire lines can be constructed and check for structure damage as access allows.
The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office will notify owners as property damage is discovered and confirmed.
UPDATE (Sept. 8, 8:45 a.m.): One inch of snow fell on the fire overnight. This along with the cool temperatures will help to dampen fire activity today.
UPDATE (Sept. 8, 8:15 a.m.): The Cameron Peak Fire grew to 102,596 acres as of Tuesday morning with 4% containment.
UPDATE (Sept. 7, 10:33 p.m.): The community meeting with a Q & A held this evening was a roundtable of officials including Rocky Mountain National Park and Larimer County Sheriff’s Office.
UPDATE (Sept. 7, 6:49 p.m.): According to the Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center, the Cameron Peak Fire has grown to 96,462 acres.
Cameron Peak fire officials have ordered mandatory evacuations for the Lady Moon and Red Feather Highlands areas in Red Feather.
UPDATE (Sept. 7, 4:30 p.m.): The Cameron Peak Fire has now surpassed a coverage area of more than 89,000 acres.
UPDATE (Sept. 7, 4:10 p.m.): Cameron Peak Fire command has requested a state wide emergency request for engines to assist with structure protection ahead of anticipated extreme fire behavior as the cold front moves through the fire area. Most departments are sending structure engines to staging including Denver Fire with five.
“The cold front arrives hours before any precipitation. It’s lagging behind. I’ve seen a forecast that flares Cameron up significantly as the front blows in with 50mph gusts,” FOX31 Meteorologist Chris Tomer said. “They don’t use the phrasing ‘Extreme’ lightly. Could be looking at 3-5 hours of ‘Extreme’ behavior.”
FOX31 Meteorologist Dave Fraser added, “Wind in Casper Wyoming currently NE and gusting to 45mph…this will push the fire southwards and flare it up.”
UPDATE (Sept. 7, 3:16 p.m.): New mandatory evacuations have been issued for the Cameron Peak Fire for all of County Road 52E (Rist Canyon Road) to include Davis Ranch Road, Whale Rock Road and west to County Road 27E Also, Highway 14 from Stove Prairie Landing to Gateway Park and County Road 27 from County Road 44H south to Big Bear Road for residents and business occupants due to immediate and imminent danger.
County Road 27 south of Big Bear Road to Masonville and north into the Buckskin Heights subdivision are under voluntary evacuations.
UPDATE (Sept. 7, 11 a.m.): Cameron Peak fire officials have issued a voluntary evacuation for all of County Road 52E (Rist Canyon Road) to include Davis Ranch Road, Whale Rock Road and west to County Road 27E.
UPDATE (Sept. 7, 10 a.m.): This is the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office with an emergency message. Cameron Peak fire officials have ordered mandatory evacuations for Glacier View filings for residents and business occupants in the area due to immediate and imminent danger. Evacuate the area immediately and as quickly as possible. Do not delay leaving to gather belongings or make efforts to protect your home or business. Evacuating immediately not only supports your safety, but also allows emergency crews better access to the area. For updates, text the word LCEVAC to 888777 from your cell phone. We will communicate information to that key word as needed. Please do not call 9-1-1 unless you are in danger.
UPDATE (Sept. 7, 7:50 a.m.): The fire grew to more than 59,000 acres overnight, up from 34,000 on Sunday. It is now considered 4% contained.
UPDATE (Sept. 6, 10:50 p.m.): FOX31’s Nicole Fierro got a first-hand look at what fire crews are dealing with on the ground.
Planning ops section chief Tom Barter said the fire did not move north but it did move and grow to the east. The fire moved to the south but hit rock and tundra which slowed it down.
Similar conditions to Saturday night will produce the same results with expected active fire activity. A Red Flag Warning is still in effect meaning there is low humidity, dry conditions and high winds.
UPDATE (Sept. 6, 8:44 p.m.): Cameron Peak fire officials have issued a voluntary evacuation for County Road 27 (Stove Prairie Road) from Highway 14 south to County Road 44H, east to include County Road 41 and Stratton Park due to the anticipated fire activity tomorrow. Voluntary evacuations are advised for residents and business occupants if they are concerned for their safety, feel they need additional time to exit the area, or have health conditions that may be aggravated by this incident. You are encouraged to move livestock and pets out of the area and to prepare for mandatory evacuations.
Hwy 14 is now closed at Stove Prairie Landing and CR74E is now closed at CR37.
UPDATE (Sept. 6, 4:39 p.m.): An update has been issued for evacuations: The Cameron Peak fire officials have issued new voluntary evacuations for residents and business occupants in the following areas: County Road 74E east from Red Feather to include the Shambhala Center, Lady Moon, and Glacier View filings up to and including Hewlett Gulch Road, located west of mile marker 10.
UPDATE (Sept. 6, 3:36 p.m.): The fire moved south into the remote northern part of Rocky Mountain National Park late yesterday. Because of Red Flag Warnings, critical fire weather conditions and active fire behavior on the Cameron Peak Fire, Trail Ridge Road in RMNP will close at 3 pm today due to the potential of heavy smoke on the road and low visibility. Closures on Trail Ridge Road will be at Forest Canyon Overlook on the east side and Colorado River Trailhead on the west side.
High temps and very low humidity created aggressive fire behavior as the fire grew almost 10,000 acres to 34,289 with 5% containment. Smoke could be seen for miles as the fire made runs along Highway 14 on Green Ridge, and east along the Crown Point Road corridor, and south into the northern part of RMNP. South of the Highway 14 corridor, the fire made runs eastward towards Crown Point Road and Browns Lake trailhead. The fire is expected to make additional pushes in those areas today.
Officials expect heavy fire activity today with high temps and low humidity again, adding in gusty winds. Air quality around the fire is poor due to the excessive amount fo smoke produced by the fire.
Authorities held a community meeting this afternoon on Facebook.
UPDATE (Sept. 5, 11:07 p.m.): Old Fall River Road closed late tonight in Rocky Mountain National Park until further notice. The trailhead at Chapin Pass is closed. Trail Ridge Road remains open. With Red Flag Warnings in place through Monday, changing conditions could bring additional closures.
Check out the aerial footage of the fire. The footage was captured by the @CODivFirePrevControl multi-mission aircraft (MMA).
UPDATE (Sept. 5, 7:39 p.m.): Fire officials have ordered voluntary evacuations for Crystal Lakes, Red Feather Lakes and the west side of the Manhattan Road from County Road 74E down to Highway 14.
UPDATE (Sept. 5, 6:43 p.m.): The fire has grown to 24,464 since this morning. Fire officials have ordered a mandatory evacuation for residents and business occupants in the area along Highway 14 from the Fish Hatchery east to Kelly Flats and the Pingree Park Road from Highway 14 south to the housing district east of the CSU Mountain Campus for all residents and businesses due to immediate and imminent danger.
Voluntary evacuations are in place in the area of County Road 44H from Pennock Pass east to County Road 27 as well as residences to the south using County Road 44H as access.
UPDATE (Sept. 5, 12:08 p.m.): The fire grew slightly to 23,906 acres. It will remain active today and tomorrow as dry conditions continue.
Smoke has created moderate air quality in communities like Fort Collins and Boulder. However, officials said the worst of the smoke was in the morning and better conditions are expected after midday.
UPDATE (Sept. 4, 9:48 a.m.): The fire grew to 23,903 acres and remains at 6% containment. It is expected to be warm and dry today, creating active fire activity. Fire crews expect to participate in group torching and runs on Green Ridge, south of Sleeping Elephant Mountain and the upper South Fork of the Poudre River Areas.
UPDATE (Sept. 3, 5:55 p.m.): A firefighter tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday. Officials believe 25 people had direct contact with the firefighter and nine people had possible contact.
“The Colorado National Guard Rapid Response team has been deployed to conduct testing. Those who test positive will be relocated and isolated,” officials said.
While people wait for results, they will continue to work on the fire in small groups.
“We have a responsibility to this community and to other states to ensure that our people are healthy before we send them home. We know that keeping anyone isolated or quarantined
won’t be popular, but it’s the right thing to do. It’s due to the exceptionally good social distancing, mask wearing and hand washing practices at the FOB, that this wasn’t worse,” Incident Commander Bea Day said in a statement.
UPDATE (Sept. 3, 11:30 a.m.): Increased fire activity is expected today with a Red Flag Warning in effect for the area where the Cameron Peak Fire is burning.
Because of the drier weather the past few days and strong winds on Wednesday, the fire did grow to 23,137 acres. This growth did not impact containment, which stayed at 6%.
The fire was most active on the northeastern edge near Green Ridge.
UPDATE (Sept. 2, 10:59 p.m.): Containment increased slightly today from 5% to 6%.
UPDATE (Sept. 2, 2 p.m.): The Cameron Peak Fire grew by 15 acres Tuesday to 23,037 acres total.
Today, crews are monitoring structures in communities northeast of the fire and along Buckhorn Road.
On the southwest side of the fire, crews will be working to identify areas where they can construct fire lines near Coral Creek and northwest of Rocky Mountain National Park.
UPDATE (Sept. 1, 10:55 p.m.): A warming, drying pattern is expected to continue into Wednesday, making for more challenging firefighting conditions. Officials said breezy conditions are also forecast.
UPDATE (Sept. 1, 11:26 a.m.): Officials report the fire has not grown and is holding at 23,022 acres. Rain over the area and sparse fuels on a ridgeline have put the fire at 5% containment.
An increase in winds and drop in relative humidity are predicted to increase fire activity and smoke production today.
CDOT moved road closure on Highway 14 west to Rustic. Highway 14 is closed from Rustic to Gould. All voluntary evacuations near the fire have been lifted.
Equipment and crews will continue doing line prep using the Crown Point Road, removing vegetation and snags so crews can begin working north towards the Laramie River Road.
Other crews will continue work building line south from the Crown Point Road towards the Comanche Peak Wilderness to connect natural features in higher elevations.
On the southeast finger of the fire, crews working along Long Draw Road have received approval to construct line into the Neota Wilderness to Highway 14 and will begin that line construction
UPDATE (Aug. 31, 11:47 p.m.): The fire was not as active with rain falling most of the day.
UPDATE (Aug. 31, 11:45 a.m.): Surge forces have begun to work off crown Point Road. This is an area where a direct fire line cannot be created, so they are working to develop an indirect line.
UPDATE (Aug. 30, 10:13 p.m.): According to stats on the InciWeb site, the size of the fire is 23,007 acres. The Operation Section Chief, Russ Long said one of the biggest issues with the fire is its location. It is burning at an elevation of 9,500 feet and on the Continental Divide the air is very thin and difficult, he said. Watch the full Q & A from this afternoon.
UPDATE (Aug. 30, 5:04 p.m.): With minimal growth on Saturday, the fire increased to 23,013 acres and is still at 0% containment. There are now 854 personnel working on the fire.
It was discovered that the USFS Greenridge/Lost Lake trailhead outhouse was burned during the early phases of the fire. It is the only structure confirmed as lost on the fire as of Saturday.
UPDATE (Aug. 29, 11:10 p.m.): Authorities updated the community that the fire did not have much growth on Saturday.
UPDATE (Aug. 29, 7:51 p.m.): Officials for the Cameron Peak Fire are hosting an hour long live Q & A on Facebook Sunday beginning at 2 p.m.
UPDATE (Aug. 29, 11:36 a.m.): The fire area has received about 1/4 inch of rain, which has moderated fire activity, officials say. The fire grew sightly to 23,007 acres.
UPDATE (Aug. 28, 10:56 p.m.): Officials say there is a good chance of “wetting rains” over the fire area on Saturday.
Gusty winds are expected Sunday.
The latest acreage estimate remains at 22,971.
UPDATE (Aug. 28, 12:34 p.m.): Authorities report that no structures, facilities, or infrastructure have been damaged. The fire is still reported at 0% containment.
Work was completed on the Deadman and Manhattan Roads down to Hwy 14 and those roads have been improved over the past week. Structure protection work has also been completed along the Pingree Park Road.
Crews will be working to complete structure protection measures from Stub Creek to Four Corners on Friday and structure mitigation will continue from the fish hatchery to the east on Hwy 14 towards Poudre Canyon Fire Protection District Station 2.
Officials report, “Cleaning and widening of Crown Point Road will continue to Dadd Gulch. Crews will be assessing the Cameron Pass area and Pingree Park Road for strategies that will tie the indirect fire lines into the high elevations of Rocky Mountain National Park.”
UPDATE (Aug. 28, 10:22 a.m.): The fire grew to 22,971 acres by Friday morning. The containment of the fire was not reported.
Widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected today. Winds are expected to shift to the east in the afternoon from a cold front moving in.
UPDATE (Aug. 27, 11:55 p.m.): Authorities said there were isolated thunderstorms over the fire area today. However, conditions change significantly tomorrow.
“Widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected Friday as a back door cold front brings a wind shift to the east during the afternoon,” officials said.
The number of people fighting the fire has grown from 706 to 735.
UPDATE (Aug. 27, 4:15 p.m.): People living in evacuated areas near the Cameron Peak Fire are being asked to register for credentials along with those living in areas that may be evacuated in the future.
According to fire managers, the credential process will speed up re-entry after the wildfire is extinguished.
They will not be required for day-to-day access to properties as long as proof of ownership or residency is available, but for homes or other properties damaged by fire the credentials will be required moving forward.
“This is to help prevent unauthorized persons from accessing your property. Only one credential will be issued per household/property. We believe this will allow for better accountability and help safeguard your property. It is also extremely important to limit access into hazard areas until the areas are safe for re-entry,” a release from the fire managers said.
Who can/should get credentials: Credentials will only be issued to residents and property owners from the communities of Red Feather Lakes, Crystal Lakes, and those in current evacuation areas (voluntary and mandatory):
- Rustic
- the Pingree Hill area (CR69 between Rustic and Goodell Corner)
- the Long Draw Road/Long Draw Reservoir area
- the Crown Point/Hourglass Reservoir/CSU Mountain Campus area
- the upper Buckhorn/Pennock Pass area
- The area from the intersection of Highway 14 and County Road 103 north to Four Corners and areas around Chambers Lake
- The area south of County Road 86 (Deadman Road) from County Road 103 east to County Road 73C and south to Highway 14
***Red Feather Lakes and Crystal Lakes are not part of the current evacuation areas. Credentials are being issued to those communities as a precautionary measure.
Credentials will be issued starting Monday, Aug. 31 at the Cache La Poudre Middle School in Laporte.
Click here to find out more about the credential process, including what you need to bring to register.
UPDATE (Aug. 27, 11:40 a.m.): Fire activity is expected to pickup Thursday due to the steep terrain and a high percentage of dead trees near the fire.
Because of this, ground crews are not able to directly access the fire’s edge safely.
Crews will continue laying hoses in sprinklers in some areas where the fire has stopped spread to continue its containment. In others areas, mop up activities are underway.
Crews along the northern, eastern and southeastern flanks of the fire are working to build fuel breaks using heavy equipment and existing roadways.
UPDATE (Aug. 27, 4:42 a.m.): Mountain Incident Command Team Blue took some new photos of the fire. You can view them here.
UPDATE (Aug. 26, 11:42 p.m.): Officials say even hotter temperatures and lower humidity levels are expected Thursday. Scattered thunderstorms are also possible. Cooler weather is expected Friday but breezy conditions will persist.
UPDATE (Aug. 26, 11:20 a.m.): No overnight size estimate was available this morning because weather prevented the scheduled infrared mapping flight.
Fire managers said much of the day Tuesday was spent conducting controlled burns from Highway 14 toward the northeast flank of the story. Heavy equipment and hand crews also spent time near the Crystal Lake and Red Feather communities along Manhattan Road improving fire breaks that include roads and dozer lines.
As weather allows today, crews will continue with controlled burns to remove fuel between the fire and nearby structures.
UPDATE (Aug. 25, 11:06 p.m.): The number of people fighting the fire has decreased from 742 to 686. Firefighters faced low humidity and warm temperatures today. More challenging conditions are expected tomorrow.
UPDATE (Aug. 25, 10:15 a.m.): The Cameron Peak Fire grew about 1,000 acres overnight, bringing its new size to 21,017 acres.
The wildfire is still zero percent contained, but crews are working on a fire line in the Sage Meadows area that will connect Laramie River Road to Deadman Road.
North of the fire, the structure protection group is working on controlled burns around buildings and other structures. The goal is to remove fuel so the fire can’t get to these structures.
UPDATE (Aug. 25, 8:10 a.m.): Mountain View Fire Rescued says it has a Captain at the fire and his division is the task force leader for engines from all over the state.
UPDATE (Aug. 25, 4:18 a.m.): New photos were released from the fire. Check them out here: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/photograph/6964/1/101842
UPDATE (Aug. 24, 8:11 p.m.): Officials provided an update for the fire on Facebook. The acreage has not changed.
UPDATE (Aug. 24, 9:15 a.m.): The fire grew to 20,118 acres Monday with no containment. According to officials, the hot, dry and windy conditions yesterday kept the fire active, especially in the Peterson Lake area. The fire also grew north of the West Work Tunnel area.
Today, fire personnel will be working along Pingree Park Road and along the ridge line from Dadd Gulch to Highway 14.
UPDATE (Aug. 23, 7:48 p.m.): Cameron Peak Fire officials provided an update for the community.
UPDATE (Aug. 23, 2:31 p.m.): The Cameron Peak Fire is burning 18,287 acres with 0% containment. The southeast fire front saw the most activity on Saturday as it approached Long Draw Reservoir.
When the Lewstone Fire, located west of Bellvue, started on Saturday, Cameron Peak Fire managers assisted Larimer County with initial attack by utilizing helicopters attached to this incident. Some crews from the Cameron Peak Fire are assisting on the Lewstone Fire on Sunday.
Colorado Highway 14 is closed from Kelly Flats to Gould. Larimer County has implemented mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders, and the Arapaho Roosevelt National Forest has implemented a closure area around the fire. The Canyon Lakes Ranger District is under Stage 2 fire restrictions.
UPDATE (Aug. 22, 8:51 p.m.): Division Supervisor Nathan Hallam describes how heavy equipment and hand crews are used to create a wide fuel break on the far northeastern portion of the fire.
UPDATE (Aug. 22, 3:44 p.m.): Fire officials report the fire is burning 17,246 acres, with no report of structure damage or injuries. There are 674 personnel working on the fire. A live update will be provided at 5:30 p.m.
UPDATE (Aug. 21, 6:21 p.m.): The ops chief for the Rocky Mountain Blue Team said the cloud cover slightly reduced the activity of the fire on Friday. He said they are working on implementing a defensive feature if the fire continues to move to the south closer to the northern end of Rocky Mountain National Park. Firefighters and personnel from RMNP and the National Forest Service have been working with Larimer County and the Rocky Mountain Blue Team.
UPDATE (Aug. 21, 4:58 p.m.): As the fire continues to move and grow, Larimer County Sheriff’s Office has issued new voluntary evacuations for the area of County Road 44H from Pennock Pass east to County Road 27 as well as residences to the south using County Road 44H as access.
UPDATE (Aug. 21, 2:52 p.m.): The fire has grown in the area south of Highway 14. Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for residents and businesses in the area, up to and including Pennock Pass on County Road 44H due to immediate and imminent danger.
UPDATE (Aug. 21, 10:09 a.m.): A slight amount of rain yesterday helped moderate the fire’s behavior in the southwest corner between Cameron Pass and Long Draw Road, managers said Friday.
Overall, the wildfire only grew by about 200 acres overnight.
UPDATE (Aug. 20, 10:27 p.m.): The number of people fighting the fire has increased from 558 to 646. The fire area received a few showers today. However, officials said “wetting rains were not observed.”
UPDATE (Aug. 20, 8:04 p.m.): New road closures will go into effect as of 9 p.m., according to the Forest Service. The closure will be on Highway 14 at Kelly Flats. The Forest Service says it will allow large vehicles a place to turn around before Rustic.
UPDATE (Aug. 20, 2:10 p.m.): The portion of the Roosevelt National Forest closed due to the fire has been expanded.
The area now closed is all National Forest System lands generally west of County Roads 67J, 69, 63E and 27; east of the Colorado State Forest State Park; south of County Road 80 C; and north of Rocky Mountain Park and County Road 44H.
Details of the closure and a map are available on the US Forest Service’s website.
UPDATE (Aug. 20, 8:58 a.m.): The fire grew several hundred acres overnight, bringing it’s new size to 16,461 acres.
UPDATE (Aug. 20, 4:23 a.m.): The public affairs staff of the Arapaho Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland said a small amount of rain fell, helping moderate fire behavior despite gusty wind tossing burning embers across Highway 14 near Joe Wright Reservoir.
UPDATE (Aug. 19, 8:58 p.m.): Officials say fire activity was “somewhat less than expected” today. The fire area received a small amount of rain, which helped moderate fire behavior despite gusty winds.
UPDATE (Aug. 19, 1:14 p.m.): The United States Department of Agriculture is asking for help determining the cause of the fire.
Anyone who has photos from when it started or information is asked to email SM.FS.usfsarp@usda.gov or call 307-745-2392 then select option 5 and leave a message.
“The most helpful photos would be those taken of active fire adjacent to any of the adjacent trails, especially of smoke and flames located near these trails,” a release from the Forest Service said.
UPDATE (Aug. 19, 10:04 a.m.): New measurements have the fire at 15,738 acres after about 1,000 acres of growth overnight.
There are no new evacuations or road closures.
UPDATE (Aug. 19, 4:30 a.m.): The fire is now four miles away from the northwest edge of Rocky Mountain National Park. Out of an abundance of caution, the park has temporarily shut down a dozen trails and 20 campsites in the remote area.
UPDATE (Aug. 18, 11:38 p.m.): The number of people fighting the fire has increased significantly, from 393 to 502. A Fire Weather Watch has been issued for Wednesday, when firefighting conditions are expected to remain challenging.
UPDATE (Aug. 18, 5:42 p.m.): In a virtual update, firefighters said today was more challenging than yesterday and tomorrow will be “interesting.”
Widespread dry thunderstorms are expected across the area. This means thunder and lightning will prevent some of the activity on the ground, without the help of rain to put out the fire.
Another problem is wildlife in the area. Those fighting the fire have reported run-ins with bears, elk and deer. Some of the animals were protective because they had babies with them.
UPDATE (Aug. 18, 5:12 p.m.): The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office said that due to the possibility of new evacuation orders, it is issuing credentials to residents and property owners in certain areas. The credentials will “allow citizens to validate their residency while keeping the area secure,” the sheriff’s office said.
Anyone interested in obtaining credentials can visit the sheriff’s office website.
UPDATE (Aug. 18, 3:30 p.m.): Part of Rocky Mountain National Park has been closed because of the fire.
According to a tweet from the park service, the fire is about four miles from a remote portion in the northwest area of the park.
“This closure includes wilderness campsites, cross country zones and trail systems in the northwest section of the park. There are currently no road closures within Rocky Mountain National Park,” a post on the RMNP website said.
UPDATE (Aug. 18, 10:23 a.m.): Rocky Mountain Incident Management says the fire has grown by nearly 2,000 acres since last night and now sits at 14,018 acres.
Most of the growth has occurred along the west and southwest flanks in the Rawah Wilderness and Cameron Pass.
This fire still has not damaged any structures, and according to managers the goal is full suppression.
Colorado Highway 14 is closed from Rustic to Gould, and fire crews are creating heavy traffic through the Poudre Canyon.
UPDATE (Aug. 17, 8:38 p.m.): As of Monday evening, the fire is actively burning 12,323 acres, which is 1,000 less than what it was actively burning Monday morning.
Although there is 0% containment, helicopters were used along the west side of Long Draw Road and along Colorado Highway 14 to keep the fire from crossing either of those roads again, as east/northeast winds are pushing the fire to the west and southwest.
UPDATE (Aug. 17, 5:30 p.m.): Fire officials said they are in full suppression mode when it comes to the Cameron Peak Fire. This means the focus is heavily on extinguishing the flames with less emphasis on fire cuts or other mitigation.
You can watch the full update from first responders here.
UPDATE (Aug. 17, 12:20 p.m.): West Metro Fire is assisting with this fire, and while most people are sleeping overnight, the fire is not.
UPDATE (Aug. 17, 10:12 a.m.): The fire grew to 13,305 acres with 0% containment Monday morning.
UPDATE (Aug. 16, 10:40 p.m.): The fire advanced on all fronts this afternoon, mostly along the Laramie River Road corridor and is now at 12,124 acres.
UPDATE (Aug. 16, 7:33 p.m.): No new evacuations are in place.
UPDATE (Aug. 16, 5:10 p.m.): The Chair of the Larimer County Board of Commissioners made a formal disaster declaration in anticipation of impacts from the Cameron Peak Fire. The declaration will be considered for ratification by the full Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, Aug. 18.
UPDATE (Aug. 16, 5:30 p.m.): Watch live update.
UPDATE (Aug. 16, 4:53 p.m.): The latest update was posted on Facebook at 4:22 p.m. A community meeting will be live from Facebook at 5:30 p.m. A link will be posted as soon as it’s available as an update.
UPDATE (Aug. 16, 3:42 p.m.): The Cameron Peak Fire has grown to 10,867 acres as of Sunday morning. No structures or campgrounds have been damaged. The fire crossed to the south side of Highway 14 in a second location yesterday, between Barnes Meadow Reservoir and Long Draw Road.
Colorado Highway 14 is closed from Rustic to Gould.
UPDATE (Aug. 15, 5:20 p.m.): An update was provided via Facebook Live
UPDATE (Aug. 14, 9:17 a.m.): The fire has grown to 5,424 acres. Officials say 120 personnel are assigned to the fire.
Evacuation orders are in place from Highway 14 north to Deadman Road and Four Corners, and from Red Feather Lakes west to Cameron Pass.
UPDATE (Aug. 14, 10:43 p.m.): With Colorado 14 closed, CDOT provided the following map to help people get between Walden and the Front Range. Drivers will have to go into Wyoming to get around the fire:
UPDATE (Aug. 14, 9:04 p.m.): The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office has extended evacuation orders to the Long Draw Reservoir area, which was previously under a voluntary evacuation.
UPDATE (Aug. 14, 8:07 p.m.): The fire has grown to 4,600 acres.
UPDATE (Aug. 14, 4:15 p.m.): The evacuation area has been expanded for the Cameron Peak Fire.
UPDATE (Aug. 14, 11 a.m.): The fire has now grown to 2,179 acres, according to US Forest Service.
Firefighters on the ground are being assisted by several helicopters as they work to contain the flames.
ORIGINAL (Aug. 13): Crews responded to a wildfire burning in wilderness west of Fort Collins Thursday afternoon.
According to the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, the fire is located near Chambers Lake. A mandatory evacuation order is in place.
The sheriff’s office said the order is for the area from the intersection of Highway 14 and County Road 103 north to Four Corners, as well as the areas around Chambers lake.
“You will need to travel north into Wyoming for safety reasons. Do not delay leaving to gather belongings or make efforts to protect your home or business. Evacuating immediately not only supports your safety, but also allows emergency crews better access to the area,” the sheriff’s office said in an alert.
Highway 14 is closed between Rustic and Gould, the sheriff’s office said.
The Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center is calling the blaze the “Cameron Peak Fire.”
About 9:50 p.m., the U.S. Forest Service estimated the fire’s size at 1,540 acres.
“Emergency managers are coordinating evacuations and conducting assessments of facilities and construction supplies stored in the area,” the Forest Service said.
Six air tankers have been called to assist in firefighting efforts.
