This week’s update to Colorado wildfire activity *Spoiler Alert* It’s not good

(The Cameron Peak Fire)

By Nia Bender

LARIMER COUNTY – Starting with the largest wildfire in Colorado’s history..Firefighters had a successful day on The Cameron Peak Fire on Thursday and crews are hoping their luck will hold out again on Friday. A RED FLAG WARNING is issued for the area in Larimer County by mid-morning and that will present another host of challenges.

Thanks to conditions on Thursday, crews were able to attack the flames directly where it was safe to do so. Air resources, including three large air tankers and four Type 1 helicopters, were used. They were able to hold the fire back in a few areas and now they’re working to assess the damage in others.

The fire has burned over 167, 153 acres and it’s 56% contained. Additional fire crews from all over the state rushed to Larimer County on Wednesday and Thursday after the blaze made a 30-thousand acre run in a 24-hour period. Roughly 11-hundred-and 19 firefighters are assigned to the wildfire.

The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office says some of the voluntary evacuations are lifted in multiple areas and residents are no longer under any restrictions:

-Crystal Lakes

-Red Feather Lakes

– Lady Moon

-Red Feather Highlands

-Hohnholz

Cameron Peak Fire officials also downgraded the evacuation status from mandatory to voluntary for County Road 52E (Rist Canyon Road) from County Road 27 east to County Road 27E. You need to have proper identification to show residency in those areas that were on mandatory evacuation and only residents will be allowed to enter. They’re asking people to use caution when driving through the area, as emergency crews are still present. To view a map of these changes, please visit nocoalert.org.

(East Troublesome Fire-taken from Hot Sulpher Springs)

The East Troublesome Fire is Colorado’s newest wildfire in Grand County. The East Troublesome Fire started on October 14th, north of Parshall, Colorado. This fire is burning at an elevation of 9,500 ft., in sage and grass on south-facing slopes in a portion of the Arapaho National Forest managed by the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests near the Parks Ranger District and Sulphur Ranger District. The fire is currently 3,718 acres and is 0% contained.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.  Strong winds are driving the fire into Troublesome Creek and onto north-facing slopes with thick, dead and downed Lodgepole Pine and Spruce. There are evacuations in some areas.

(The Williams Fork Fire)

The Williams Fork Fire continues to burn outside of Fraser, in Grand County near Jones Pass. It’s been burning since August 14th and in the past couple of weeks, it’s grown to 14,584 acres. It’s sitting at about 26% containment as of today. Crews were pulled off of the fire to help out with the East Troublesome Fire on Thursday after that blaze broke out at about 4:00 p.m.

Wind gusts ranged from 40-55 mph yesterday over parts of the fire, with gusts up to 104 mph recorded in the Jones Pass area. High winds elevated the risk of falling snags. Crews worked where possible, completing most of the planned work there, only some minor items are left to complete. Heavy equipment completed the northern line and now crews are working to finish chipping fuels along containment lines. While there are no evacuations ordered in the area, it is affecting recreational services, hunting is one of those.

 

 

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