LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. — More than two dozen structures have been damaged or destroyed in the wildfire, officials confirmed in a 4 p.m. Friday news conference.
The fire had burned 9,375 acres as of Friday afternoon and remains 5% contained, officials confirmed at the news conference. That containment is expected to grow in the coming days, as crews are reportedly having success in controlling the flames in the Cedar Park area and its surrounding homes as well as along the 34 corridor.
Only minor injuries have been reported, as stated in the news conference.
Officials previously reported that at least 24 structures were damaged in the fire. In the Friday briefing, Larimer County Sheriff John Feyen said roughly six other structures were lost in the fire, all of which are in the same area as the other two dozen.
Feyen said damage assessment teams were able to gather necessary information in the areas where structural damages took place, and that outreach to those who lost property will begin.
Friday, some changes were made to mandatory and voluntary evacuations for some residents affected by the Alexander Mountain Fire in Larimer County.
The sheriff's office said Friday afternoon that mandatory evacuations had been changed to voluntary evacuations for:
- Glade Road between Highway 34 and County Road 38E.
- Riverview RV Park, north along Buckhorn Road to Woods Rose Lane.
- Residents north of Carter Lake in the area of County Road 18E to County Road 29.
Voluntary evacuations were lifted for:
- Areas around Carter Lake.
- Areas around Canyon Road 27.
- Hidden Valley east of Devil's Backbone.
- Residents off Ridge Parkway.
Feyen said additional changes to evacuations were to take place Friday evening, and directed residents to NOCO Alert for the latest information. As of Friday evening, 2,415 people are under mandatory evacuation orders and 2,588 people are under voluntary evacuation orders, Feyen said.
Officials said Friday that progress was made in containing the flames along Highway 34, and crews expect to grow that containment along the highway toward the canal road. Once crews are able to secure the edge above Highway 34, the fire will be less likely to go across the highway or across the road that goes up into Cedar Park, officials said.
Crews are reportedly planning potential response efforts if the fire were to cross the corridor.
The sheriff's office said the damaged and destroyed structures are "in the immediate area of Palisade Mountain Drive and Snow Top Drive." They said the affected structures are a combination of homes and outbuildings.
The fire, which started Monday in the mountains west of Loveland, is one of four burning along the Front Range. The cause is under investigation.
> Watch the 4 p.m. Friday fire update.
Evacuations
As of Friday evening, 2,415 people are under mandatory evacuation orders and 2,588 people are under voluntary evacuation orders, Feyen said.
Residents are being directed to NOCO Alert for the latest information on evacuations.
The evacuation location for large animals is The Ranch at 5290 Arena Circle. Small animals like cats and dogs can be evacuated to NoCo Humane. The shelter can be reached at 970-226-3647 opt. 0.
Sheriff Feyen said Friday that 100 large animals that have already been evacuated were taken to Island Grove in Weld County.
The Red Cross is providing overnight shelter for people impacted by evacuations at Foundations Church, 1380 Denver Ave. in Loveland and the Estes Park Event Complex at 1125 Rooftop Way in Estes Park.
People in voluntary evacuation zones are being asked to gather essential items and prepare to leave.
The sheriff's office says the Joint Information Center for the Alexander Mountain Fire is available at 970-980-2500. For additional information on animal evacuations and evacuation centers, call this phone number.
A dude ranch west of Loveland - Sylvan Dale Ranch - is in the mandatory evacuation zone. On Monday, staff and volunteers helped move more than 50 horses to another property about two miles away.
Two horses were seriously injured on the drive over after falling through the floorboard of a trailer. Both of their hind legs were hurt, and at one point there was concern they had to be put down.
Thankfully, the horses received care and surgery at a veterinarian hospital, and veterinarians say they will be ok. A GoFundMe has been set up to help cover the cost of the bills.
Sylvan Dale Ranch has been under threat of wildfire before. They evacuated back in 2020 during the Cameron Peak Fire.
Closures
U.S. Highway 34 is closed through Big Thompson Canyon from Larimer County Road 27/milepost 85.6 to Mall Road/milepost 65.8, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.
Horsetooth Reservoir is being used to support wildfire operations and response. Larimer County's Department of Natural Resources said Monday night that the reservoir is closed to boating and all forms of water recreation until further notice.
The Roosevelt National Forest has issued a closure order for the area near the fire.
U.S. Postal Service offices in Masonville, Drake and Glen Haven are temporarily closed. Customers usually served by those offices are directed to pick up their mail elsewhere and provide photo ID for all mail pickups.
USPS says customers normally served by the Masonville Post Office can pick up their mail at the Loveland Main Post Office located at 446 E 29th St. in Loveland. Hours for pick up are Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and Saturday 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
USPS says customers normally served by the Drake Post Office and the Glen Haven Post Office can pick-up their mail at the Estes Park Post Office located at 215 W Riverside Dr. in Estes Park. Hours for pick-up are Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Firefighting efforts
Officials reported in a 4 p.m. Friday briefing that crews of a total of 389 personnel were making good progress in controlling the flames; however, current hot and dry conditions still present challenges, and potential thunderstorms and winds could also be an obstacle in days to come.
Helicopters and air tankers are assisting in reducing the rate of spread so firefighters can continue their work, officials said Friday.
Crews from multiple agencies are responding to the fire, which is burning on U.S. Forest Service land and private land. Colorado Public Safety Director Stan Hilkey said resources are being shared between the Alexander Mountain Fire and the other wildfires burning along the Front Range.
Fire officials said Thursday afternoon that they anticipate the northern edge of the fire will move into the burn scar from the 2020 Cameron Peak Fire. They're hoping the burn scar will help stop the fire from progressing.
Cause
The cause of the fire is undetermined. The U.S. Forest Service is asking anyone with information regarding the cause and origin of the fire to call the Forest Service Law Enforcement Tip Line at 303-275-5266. Photographs and videos can be submitted on the Forest Service website.
