LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. – The mapped acreage of the Cameron Peak Fire remained unchanged Wednesday at 21,017 acres and 0% containment, as infrared flight crews were not able to fly Tuesday night because of poor weather conditions.
Crews conducted burn operations on the northeast side of the fire Tuesday to increase the burned space between the fire and Highway 14. They continued structure preparation work along the norther, eastern, and southern sides of the fire and continued to build fire lines near Crystal Lake and Red Feather south toward Crown Point Road.
Air crews continued support on the active parts of the fire and near structures, fire managers said.
On Wednesday, crews will continue to lay hose and sprinkler lines near structures and mop up from Tuesday’s burn operations to extinguish and hot spots. Burnout operations will continue if weather permits, as will continued line construction.
Temperatures are expected to be in the upper 70s at the fire Wednesday, with relative humidity in the 15%-20% range below 9,000 feet and 20-25% at higher elevations.
Winds will be out of the west at 10-15 miles per hour and could gust up to 40 miles per hour later in the afternoon, as storms are expected to develop.
The Portland National Incident Management Organization Team and Rocky Mountain Team Black assumed command of the fire Wednesday morning, and 686 personnel are currently working the fire.
Colorado Highway 14 is closed from Kelly Flatts to Gould due to the Cameron Peak Fire. The Arapaho Roosevelt National Forest has implemented a closure area around the fire. An evacuation map can be found below.
No structures or infrastructure has been damaged in the fire so far. The Lewstone Fire, which burned about 30 miles east of the Cameron Peak Fire, was deemed 100% contained Tuesday afternoon. Crews will continue mop-up duties there on Wednesday.
The fire started Aug. 13 around 1:45 p.m. and is located about 15 miles southwest of Red Feather Lakes. Its cause remains under investigation.
The Cameron Peak Fire is one of four major fires currently burning in Colorado. Click here for more Denver7 coverage of the wildfires.