Fire crews worked through the night to try to get containment on three of the wildfires burning along the Front Range.
Wednesday night, officials working the Stone Canyon fire north of Lyons said they were able to get 20% containment on the fire, which started Tuesday, and some residents in Lyons were allowed to return to their homes.
While ground crews worked the fire lines overnight, air support is expected to resume Thursday morning as officials continue to share resources.
The Alexander Mountain fire is the largest wildfire in the state and late Wednesday night officials announced they had 1% containment. That is on the east side as they continue to protect the Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch.
On Wednesday, Gov. Jared Polis said he has activated the Colorado National Guard to help with logistics in fighting the wildfires. Soldiers won’t be fighting the fires but will help with backup support, including traffic control and other needs. Polis also said FEMA will help pay for the costs to fight the fires, and will cover 75% of the costs.
The National Weather Service in Denver said there will be a slight chance of afternoon storms mainly over Park County and the Palmer Divide, but “elevated fire conditions will continue over higher terrain.” Those conditions include above normal temperatures, forecast in the high 90s, and low humidity.
Warm and stagnant weather combined with smoke from local and out-of-state fires will bring unhealthy air quality that could be harmful for people with respiratory illnesses, children and older adults, state health officials warned in an advisory Thursday morning.
The warning is for Douglas County north to Larimer and Weld counties, including the Denver-Boulder area, Greeley and Fort Collins and remains in effect until 4 p.m.
Catch up: Read live updates from Wednesday
Alexander Mountain fire
Current size: 8,134 acres
Location: West of Loveland in Larimer County
Containment: 5%
Cause: Unknown
Impact: 3,200 people evacuated; at least two dozen structures damaged or destroyed; no injuries
Starting to get containment
With more than 325 personnel working on the fire, officials said Thursday evening the fire was 5% contained and most of the fire activity occurred “primarily on the interior of the fire.” That burning cause a noticeable smoke plume in the afternoon.
Weather is forecast to remain hot and dry through Monday with a high pressure system stationed over the Rockies.
— 7:45 p.m. Thursday
Fiber-optic line draws concern
During a news conference Thursday afternoon, Southwest Incident Management Team Operations Section Chief Jayson Coil said crews are making good progress slowing the fire’s spread and protecting structures, particularly near Masonville on the eastern edge.
One big concern, he said, is an above-ground fiber optic line that runs through Big Thompson Canyon and provides 911 service to Estes Park. Crews are stationed along Highway 34 to protect the line and keep the fire from jumping the highway and moving to the south where the timber is more dense.
Along the northern edge, the fire is nearing the Cameron Peak burn scar, which he said is good news and should slow the fire in that section.
The fire went from 1% to 0% contained because as the fire grew the percentage of containment dropped.
— 5 p.m. Thursday
More than 20 structures damaged, destroyed
At least two dozen structures have burned in the fire, the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday afternoon. The structures are believed to be a combination of homes and outbuildings.
“Getting the notification that your home or property has been damaged is never easy. We will grieve alongside our neighbors through this difficult process, and our team will be here for you in the difficult days and months ahead,” Larimer County Sheriff John Feyen said in a news release.
— 3:20 p.m. Thursday
Updates on plans for fighting blaze
Hotshot crews are prioritizing protecting homes in the Masonville subdivision on the fire’s east side and Cedar Park subdivision on the west, by creating natural fire barriers, said Jayson Coil, the operations section chief with the Southwest Area Incident Management Team.
Crews will work until they reach the Cameron Peak fire scar, Coil said, saying that the fire is not expected to travel north beyond the fire’s scar.
Firefighters will also work to protect homes along U.S. 34 and try to make sure the fire doesn’t jump south of the highway, where there are a lot more trees, he said.
— 12:20 p.m. Thursday
New team takes command of operations
As of 6 a.m., the Southwest Area Incident Management Team 1 has assumed command of the fire. The team, based out of Albuquerque, was last in Colorado in July 2002 to help with the Big Elk fire, which burned 4,800 acres south of Estes Park. (Three pilots were killed fighting that fire.)
Currently there are 450 personnel fighting the Alexander Mountain fire, which started Monday. The cause of the fire is unknown and under investigation.
The incident team has set up a new Facebook page for updates on the fire.
— 9:05 a.m. Thursday
Thursday morning’s update
Firefighters have made minor headway and have been able to get its first bit of containment and have secured the perimeter next to the Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch, which is on the east side of the blaze near where it started. Crews continue to keep the flames from jumping over Highway 34, which remains closed.
Hotshot firefighting crews and other resources are expected to arrive Thursday to fight the fire, the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office said.
Smoke was a big issue for aerial crews Wednesday and “there were times when aviation assets could not be utilized,” officials said late Wednesday night.
— 5:40 a.m. Thursday
Stone Canyon fire
Current size: 1,553 acres
Location: Stone Mountain outside Lyons in Boulder County
Containment: 20%
Cause: Unknown
Impact: One fatality; five structures have been destroyed
Power returning to Stone Canyon Drive neighborhood
Power should return to homes in the Stone Canyon Drive neighborhood Thursday afternoon. Xcel Energy will be in the neighborhood Friday morning starting at 8 a.m. to relight gas pilots. Someone must be home for this to happen. If not possible, contact Xcel for alternative methods.
Large dumpsters are being placed in each neighborhood to deposit spoiled food and perishable items. Disaster management office asks that food waste not be placed on roads or sidewalks.
— 4:45 p.m. Thursday
Some evacuations lifted and roads opened
Some areas of the evacuation have been marked “all clear;” they are indicated in green on this map. Blue Mountain Road is now open north of Highway 36 into Larimer County at County Road 37E and Lone Star Road.
The Steamboat Valley and Stone Canyon neighborhoods have been marked all clear. The Steamboat Valley Road closure has moved north to Lewis Lane Trail. Stone Canyon Drive is open to Eagle Ridge Road to residents only. And Nolan Road is open to Eagle Ridge Road — again, residents only.
The fire is experiencing little growth. A large evacuation area remains in place.
— 3:35 p.m. Thursday
Fire restrictions upgraded; “extreme caution” urged
The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office has enacted stage 2 fire restrictions and is asking all residents and visitors to use extreme caution with anything that could potentially start a spark or flame. Larimer County, where the Alexander Mountain fire is burning, also has enacted stage 2 restrictions.
Stage 2 fire restrictions prohibit:
- Building, maintaining or using an open fire, campfire or stove fire on private and public lands, including charcoal grills and barbecues. This ban is also in effect in developed camping and picnic areas.
- Firework sales, use and possession, including fireworks that are otherwise legal
- Shooting or discharge of firearms for recreational use
- Smoking, unless in an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreational site or while stopped in an area at least 10 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials
- Opening a chainsaw without a USDA or SAE approved spark arrester that is properly installed and in good working order
- Using an explosive to do any kind of blasting work
- Welding or using a torch with an open flame outdoors
- Using a vehicle off established roads, motorized trails or established parking areas, except when parking in an area that does not have vegetation within 10 feet of the vehicle
— 11:05 a.m. Thursday
Minimal growth overnight; air support diverted
There was little growth overnight and the fire remains at about 1,548 acres, Boulder County officials said Thursday morning.
The fire, which started Tuesday morning, will likely get less air support as aircraft are reassigned to other fires that are still growing, the county said. Crews will continue to work on the ground to secure the fire perimeter and assess damage by the fire.
Forecasted high temperatures and low relative humidity levels will provide little relief to the fire.
—9:20 a.m. Thursday
Thursday morning’s update
Officials said Wednesday night they had 20% containment on the fire, which has slowed but is moving to the northeast. Ground crews were working the fire lines overnight, and air support is expected to resume Thursday morning.
— 5:45 a.m. Thursday
Quarry fire
Current size: 450 acres
Location: Deer Creek Canyon in Jefferson County
Containment: 0%
Cause: Unknown
Impact: 600 homes evacuated; no injuries or burned homes
Growth, but on open space land
Officials say the fire grew by around 100 acres Thursday, but on open space land. Overall, it was less active than previous days and responders made progress.
They are anticipating cooperative weather overnight into Friday and continued helicopter support. A hand crew will join the 155 firefighters currently on the ground.
— 6 p.m. Thursday
Flames within quarter-mile of homes
Three helicopters and two planes continue to drop water and retardant on the fire Thursday.
“We are fortunate to have those. The other fires going on, air resources are crucial to all of us,” Mark Techmeyer, a spokesperson for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said during a 2 p.m. news conference. “When we put in a request last night, we put it in with crossed fingers.”
Additional resources would be “fabulous to have,” but crews are working with what they have, calling the fire a “hard fight,” Stacy Martin, assistant chief of Evergreen Fire Protection District.
Officials couldn’t provide an estimate as to how long before evacuated residents could return home.
“This terrain isn’t like something I have seen in my career in 15 years,” he said. “It’s hard. This thing could go on for days, a week, two weeks, we just don’t know.”
While the Quarry fire isn’t the largest burning in the foothills, Techmeyer said the amount of homes at risk and challenging terrain places the fire as a high priority to get under control.
No structures have been lost in the fire, but Techmeyer said flames are within a quarter-mile of some homes.
“You look at the incredibly difficult terrain it is for firefighters, and you look at the density of home that are up there and you look at assets that really can’t afford to be lost like the watershed that puts out water down to 2,800,000 people down toward Denver that could be affected by this fire if it got out of control; Lockheed Martin right behind us,” he said.
“Those are things that have to be protected, not to mention the homes of people that live there.”
— 2:32 p.m. Thursday
West Ranch subdivision residents told to be ready to leave
People living in the West Ranch neighborhood in central Jefferson County should be alert and ready to leave, Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District said in a post on Facebook about 12:45 p.m. West Ranch is a 1,250-acre gated community with 52 homes.
An evacuation center has been created at Dakota Ridge High School at 13399 West Coal Mine Ave. Anyone who needs help should call 911.
— 1:50 p.m. Thursday
Update on fire resources
There are three helicopters, two aircraft, 155 firefighters and 23 fire rigs on scene fighting the Quarry fire, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said.
— 1 p.m. Thursday
Firefighter morale remains high
“The volunteers, they’re pros, this is what they do and they know what they are signing up for,” Mark Techmeyer, a spokesperson for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday. “Their morale is: Let’s go to war, let’s fix this thing, let’s put this fire out, let’s take care of these people’s homes.”
The cause of the fire, which started Tuesday evening, remains under investigation.
“Everyone should be worried right now, there’s a huge fire that is difficult to fight. … This is not easy folks, this is a tough fire,” Techmeyer said, adding that the fire is about a quarter-mile from West Sampson Road. Techmeyer said he expects firefighting efforts to extend into the weekend.
“We’re going to be on this for a while.”
County officials discouraged donations of food and other items because there is no space to put them. More information on ways to support affected residents can be found online.
— 8:35 a.m. Thursday
No growth overnight
Low winds and higher humidity helped firefighters and the fire did not grow overnight, Mark Techmeyer, a spokesman for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, said Thursday morning.
“We had a great night last night. The fire behaved, it laid down and did not grow overnight,” he said.
“This fire cannot jump over to the north side of Deer Creek Canyon Road. We have a whole other situation on our hands if that happens,” he said. “If we lose control of this fire and it jumps over to the north side, that would be our nightmare.”
— 8:10 a.m. Thursday
Hotshots arrive to help; 5 firefighters injured but OK
The San Juan Hotshots, a group of 20 firefighters from Colorado, arrived Wednesday night and will help to attack the fire from the ground, Mark Techmeyer said.
“They are boots on the ground in tough terrain and take care of tough situations,” he said, adding, “Let’s be real, this fire will not be won in the air. We have to have the Hotshots.”
As temperatures crept near 100 degrees, five firefighters assigned to the fire were injured, Techmeyer said. Four suffered from heat exhaustion and one had a seizure. None were hospitalized and all are in good condition Thursday, he said.
— 8 a.m. Thursday
Thursday morning’s update
Infrared imaging estimated the fire to be at 341 acres, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
The fire is burning in a highly dense population area, and more pre-evacuation warnings were issued Wednesday night, putting the Homestead South and Oehlmann Park neighborhoods on notice.
More than a dozen fire agencies responded to the fire Wednesday, including 17 firefighters with five engines from West Metro fire department who worked along the road digging fire lines and cutting down brush and other fuels to help strengthen natural barriers to stop the fire.
— 5:50 a.m. Thursday
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