LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. — Hundreds of people in Larimer County were forced to evacuate their homes Monday after a wildfire near Drake grew to over 900 acres in size in just a few hours, with no signs of stopping.
Residents from Drake to The Dam Store along Highway 34 were the first ordered to evacuate by the Larimer County Sheriff's Office as the wildfire burned on Alexander Mountain. Those evacuation orders were later extended to residents living on Waltonia Rd., Sylvan Dale to Ellis Ranch, and Eden Valley to Sunrise Ranch as well as for people living along County Road 18E from Pole Hill to Pinewood Reservoir.
Evacuees were told to head to Namaqua Elementary School in Loveland and the Estes Park Events Complex, though Larimer County deputies later said those at the elementary school would need to move to Foundations Church, located at 1380 N. Denver Ave. in Loveland, after 5 p.m.
People with ranch animals were advised to head to the The Ranch, 5290 Arena Cir., Loveland, CO 80538; while those with small animals (such as dogs, cats, etc.) were told to evacuate to NoCo Humane. Residents were advised to call them at (970) 226-3647, option 0, before heading there, however, to ask which of their two locations was taking in those smaller animals.
Voluntary evacuations were also issued for residents off of Glade Rd. from Highway 34 north to Indian Creek, as well as for residents off County Road 18E from County Road 31 to County Road 29. Those under a voluntary evacuation were told to gather essential items and prepare for evacuation.
In all, more than 2,600 devices were sent evacuation orders while about 1,500 were sent voluntary evacuation notices, according to David Moore, with the Larimer County Sheriff's Office.
Those in the fire zone were advised to text LCEVAC to 888-777 for updates. A map of the evacuation area can be viewed here or in the embed below.
The fire, which was first reported at around 10:38 a.m., was burning in the area west of the Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch, Retreat & Wedding Venue, according to the Larimer County Sheriff's Office.
Not long after evacuations were announced, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) said via social media that Highway 34 was shut down in both directions between Estes Park to just west of Loveland. Those closures were still in place as of 5 p.m. Monday.
Later, as firefighting efforts intensified, the Larimer County Department of Natural Resources (DNR) warned people against recreating at Horsetooth Reservoir, saying in a social media post on X, formerly Twitter, that the area is closed until further notice as the reservoir was being utilized to support firefighting efforts.
The Alexander Mountain Fire, as it has been dubbed by fire officials, is burning on Roosevelt National Forest land north of Highway 34. The blaze, which was initially estimated to be around 800 acres in size by the Larimer County Sheriff's Office, was later downgraded to 247 acres. By 4 p.m., Larimer County officials said the fire had grown to 339 acres with no containment.
In an update issued just before 6 p.m. Monday, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), citing the "latest flight information," said the fire was 864 acres in size. The Larimer County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) said the fire was roughly 950 acres and 0% contained as of 7:45 p.m.
A Blackhawk air tanker, two Type 1 helicopters and one Type 3 helicopter had been sent to help battle the wildfire, Larimer County deputies said, and multiple agencies were responding to help battle the flames.
The sheriff's office said water and fire retardant were dropped continuously on the fire until 8 p.m. Air and additional ground resources will resume operations Tuesday morning. Fire crews will attend the blaze overnight, according to LCSO.
Beginning at 6 a.m. Tuesday, the sheriff's office will transfer command of the fire to the U.S. Forest Service.
The cause of the fire is not known at this time.
LCSO said it has seen a "large outpouring of support" and no additional volunteer resources or supplies are needed at this time.
The U.S. Postal Service said the fire has impacted customers served by the Masonville and Drake post offices. USPS said impacted customers can pick-up their mail at the following locations:
- Customers served by the Masonville Post Office can pick up their mail at the Loveland Mail Post Office, located at 446 E. 29th Street in Loveland
- Customers serviced by the Drake Post Office can pick up their mail at the Estes Park Post Office, located at 215 W. Riverside Dr. in Estes Park
Residents forced to evacuate said fire size "exploded"
Caitlin Tanner, an evacuee who lives along Highway 34, said the fire just exploded, going from about 10 acres to more than 200 acres in a flash.
She was in the process of gathering her belongings and heading out of the area when Denver7 called her.
“Well, it started really fast, about less than two hours ago. We saw smoke, and it was about 10 acres at the time, and then we kind of started rounding up neighbors and animals and pets and people and important things,” Tanner said. "We’re just finishing loading up our vehicles and getting ready to get out of here.”
Tanner said authorities are out in force inside the evacuation zone, ensuring residents make it out safely.
"So far, hundreds of first responders are going up and down. They've closed the canyon a little bit further down so that no one can come unless they leave here,” she said. “If people aren't leaving, they're going to start making sure people get out.”
No injuries or damage to structures has been reported due to the fire.
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