The Cameron Peak fire — the biggest wildfire in Colorado history — had burned 164,140 acres, about 256 square miles, as of Thursday morning. More than 1,000 firefighters are working on the massive blaze, which is 56% contained.
Driven by strong winds and gusts as high as 76 mph, the fire sprinted east Wednesday, engulfing about 28,000 new acres by Thursday morning.
“Yesterday we had a really busy day,” said Paul Delmerico, operations section chief of the Cameron Peak fire, at a Thursday morning briefing.
Fire containment lines on the north side of the fire held strong Wednesday, Delmerico said, and structure protection efforts remain a priority north of the fire in Red Feather Lakes, Glacier View and other communities.
A combination of wind, open terrain and dry fuels lead to Wednesday’s “substantial run” east, Delmerico said. On Thursday firefighters will concentrate on trying to keep the east flank of the fire south of Buckhorn Road and west of Larimer County Road 27.
Thursday’s weather — cooler temperatures, less wind and some cloudy skies — helped firefighters, said Michelle Kelly, a public information officer.
“Right now, the weather is cooperating,” Kelly said. “We do expect changes, including another significant wind event.”
Strong winds, with gusts up to 60 mph, are possible in areas of the county above 10,000 feet Friday night and Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. The weather is expected to remain mostly dry, with just a chance for slight moisture.
“We are not expecting any significant precipitation in the near future,” Kelly said.
Rocky Mountain National Park announced additional closures in park in Thursday. The fire spread into the park Sept. 6 and has burned 7,050 acres in the Cascade Creek, Hague Creek and Mummy Pass Creek drainages in “steep, thick, beetle-killed forests with significant standing dead trees as well as dead and down fuels,” according to park officials. There is a current ban on all fires in the park.
On Thursday the sheriff’s office lifted voluntary evacuation notices for residents of Crystal Lakes, Red Feather Lakes, Lady Moon, Red Feather Highlands and Hohnholz. A mandatory evacuation order for Rist Canyon Road from County Road 27 east to County Road 27E was downgraded to voluntary.
The Colorado Department of Health and Environment again issued a warning for particulates Thursday in Douglas, Jefferson, Denver, western Arapahoe, western Adams, Broomfield, Boulder, Larimer and Weld counties.
“Periods of moderate to heavy smoke from the Cameron Peak wildfire will continue for Larimer County on Thursday,” the CDPHE said. “Further south in the Longmont, Denver and Boulder areas, smoke levels are expected to be lighter.”
The health department urges people to reduce their time outdoors as smoke increases in the area.
On Thursday the U.S. Forest Service shut down the entire Canyon Lakes Ranger District of the Roosevelt National Forest because of the fire. The district is about 650,000 acres, and the shutdown order includes lands south of U.S. 34.
“This closure impacts numerous recreation sites, including all campgrounds, trails and Forest Service Roads,” according to a news release. The closure will affect hunting in the area.
Postal Service delivery has been curtailed in some areas, including to the Drake, Glen Haven and Masonville post offices. Masonville customers can pick up mail at the main Loveland post office, 446 E. 29th St., during regular business hours. Glen Haven and Drake customers can pick up mail at the Estes Park post office, 215 W. Riverside Drive. A photo ID is required, according to the Postal Service.
The Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association on Thursday, at the request of fire incident command, turned off power to the Cedar Park area near Glen Haven, north of Drake along U.S. 34. Power also was turned off along Buckhorn Canyon Road, including Masonville and the Stove Prairie Elementary School.
Wildfire map
Click markers for details, use buttons to change what wildfires are shown. Map data is automatically updated by government agencies and could lag real-time events. Incident types are numbered 1-5 — a type 1 incident is a large, complex wildfire affecting people and critical infrastructure, a type 5 incident is a small wildfire with few personnel involved. Find more information about incident types at the bottom of this page.
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Cameron Peak fire: More than 1,000 firefighters battle 256-square-mile blaze - The Denver Post
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