DENVER — The battle to contain wildfires that broke out last week on Colorado’s Front Range continues after significant progress gains in the past few days, but officials say, "It's not over."
Officials announced Sunday that containment has increased in both the Alexander Mountain Fire in Larimer County and the Quarry Fire in Jefferson County. And the Stone Canyon Fire near Lyons was fully contained.
It was also announced that most evacuation orders were cleared or downgraded in the Alexander Mountain Fire.
The following areas in the Alexander Fire burn area were given the "all clear" Sunday morning: East of County Road 27 from Hwy 34 to Masonville. Pinewood, Flatirons, Carter Reservoir area, including Pole Hill. Glen Haven, and the Dunraven Glade Retreat area.
The following areas in the Alexander Fire burn area were downgraded to voluntary evacuation Sunday morning: County Rd 43 from the Retreat to Drake. East from the Little Dam Store including Green Ridge Glade Reservoir, Eden Valley, Bobcat Natural Area, Sylvan Dale.
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Wildfire
Most evacuations lifted in Alexander Mountain Fire as containment grows to 54%
On Sunday, the 9,668-acre Alexander Mountain Fire jumped from 32% to 54% containment. The 472-acre Quarry Fire increased to 35% containment Sunday. The Stone Canyon fire is fully contained.
Two neighborhoods also had some Quarry Fire evacuation orders lifted. Deer Creek Mesa and Kueshter residents returned to their homes at 5 p.m. Saturday after the mandatory evacuation order was downgraded to a pre-evacuation notice. According to Jefferson County officials, those subdivisions account for a little more than 200 of the 575 homes that were initially evacuated due to the fire.
Residents from subdivisions still under evacuation orders need to obtain badges from Dakota Ridge High School between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday in order to be allowed back in once those orders are lifted, according to Mark Techmeyer, the public affairs director for the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
But Techmeyer cautioned those allowed back in to stay ready to get out again if the need arises.
“This is not done. It’s not over. Stay in a pre-evac mindset. Anything could happen. We could have a weird weather event and changes, and we don't anticipate that, but it could. We've instructed all of them to keep your go-bags packed, be ready to go if you have to go again,” Techmeyer said during a Sunday morning press briefing.
Techmeyer said crews worked Saturday evening into early Sunday morning doing intentional burning, and plan to continue you that throughout the day. They'll also get help from helicopters and air drops.
The Alexander Mountain Fire, which started on Monday, July 29, in Larimer County, has destroyed 25 homes and 20 outbuildings. What caused it is unknown.
No structure loss has been reported in the Quarry Fire burning in Jefferson County. The blaze, first reported around 9 p.m. Tuesday, is suspected arson after fire investigators found some “weird items” at what they confirmed to be the source of the fire near Deer Creek "above Grizzly in the switchback area."
Rain began falling over the Quarry Fire area Sunday afternoon. Although it had no effect the 472-acre blaze.
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Wildfire
Quarry Fire containment grows to 35% amid rainfall that had no effect on blaze
Karlyn Tilley, a spokesperson for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, said the arson investigation is ongoing. Investigators are using a dog specially trained to sniff out sources and causes of fires. Tilley said just because they suspect the fire was human-caused doesn’t mean it was intentional.
The 1,553-acre Stone Canyon Fire, reported just before 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 30, is burning just west of Rabbit Mountain and northeast of Lyons. One person died, and five homes were destroyed.
With four major wildfires burning across the Front Range this week, it can be hard to know where to go or how to help, especially with reports of scams running rampant. Denver7 has compiled this list of verified sources where you can give.
Here's the latest on the wildfires burning in Colorado. This information will be continuously updated:
Alexander Mountain Fire
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🟥 Burning in Larimer County west of Loveland
🟥 9,668 acres
🟥 54% contained
🟥 25 homes and 20 outbuildings destroyed, 4 homes damaged
🟥 5,200 people evacuated
🟥 No injuries reported
🟥 Cause unknown
The nearly 10,000-acre Alexander Mountain Fire, the largest of the wildfires burning in the state, was first reported at around 10:38 a.m. Monday, July 29, west of the Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch, Retreat & Wedding Venue. It forced the evacuations of more than 5,000 people in the area and destroyed at least 25 homes.
Evacuation centers are set up at:
- Foundations Church, 1380 Denver Ave, Loveland
- Estes Park Events Complex, 1125 Rooftop Way, Estes Park
- Boulder County Fairgrounds, Exhibit Building, 9595 Nelson Rd, Longmont
On Sunday, it was announced that some evacuation orders were cleared and downgraded in the Alexander Mountain Fire.
The following areas were given the "all clear" Sunday morning: East of County Road 27 from Hwy 34 to Masonville. Pinewood, Flatirons, Carter Reservoir area, including Pole Hill. Glen Haven, and the Dunraven Glade Retreat area.
The following areas were downgraded to voluntary evacuation Sunday morning: County Rd 43 from the Retreat to Drake. East from the Little Dam Store including Green Ridge Glade Reservoir, Eden Valley, Bobcat Natural Area, Sylvan Dale.
In a Saturday morning update, officials said no additional structures were damaged by the fire overnight, and the fire has still not crossed Highway 34. They warned that elevated fire behavior is expected again on Saturday with the dry condition of fuels.
The Larimer County Sheriff's Office said a team went into the impacted area Saturday and confirmed 45 structures — 25 homes and 20 outbuildings — were destroyed in the fire.
The sheriff's office is looking for property owners on the following roads:
- Cedar Creek Road
- Spruce Mountain Drive
- Green Ridge Road
- Possum Court
- Palisade Mountain Drive
- Snow Top Drive
- Bobcat Drive
If you own property on any of these roads and have not already received a phone call from Sheriff Feyen, please contact the Damage Assessment Center at (970) 980-2800, available from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Meanwhile, many evacuees are still waiting to hear when they'll be able to return to their properties and check on them. Kelly Atkins, an evacuee, said he found out that his home is still standing but is still worried about other impacts, such as smoke damage.
"You want to just get back and find out what you've got," he said.
Around 70% of the fire spans across United States Forest Service land and the other 30% encompasses private lands.
FEMA has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Alexander Mountain Fire.
🟥 WATCH: The latest on the Alexander Mountain Fire
Stone Canyon Fire
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🟥 Burning in Boulder County north of Lyons
🟥 1,553 acres
🟥 Fully contained
🟥 All evacuation orders lifted
🟥 5 structures destroyed
🟥 1 person dead, 4 firefighters injured
🟥 Cause unknown
The 1,553-acre Stone Canyon Fire, reported just before 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 30, is burning just west of Rabbit Mountain and northeast of Lyons. It has destroyed at least five homes. Human remains were found in one of the five homes, Boulder County Sheriff Curtis Johnson said during a press conference on Wednesday morning.
On Saturday morning, officials opened all of Stone Canyon Drive to residents and through traffic. The Moss Rock area is still hot and will remain closed due to the unsafe conditions.
Authorities completed a damage assessment Friday and found no additional destroyed homes.
FEMA has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Stone Canyon Fire.
🟥 WATCH: The latest on the Stone Canyon Fire
Quarry Fire
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🟥 Burning in Jefferson County north of Lyons near Deer Creek Canyon
🟥 472 acres
🟥 35% contained
🟥 575 homes evacuated across 5 subdivisions
🟥 No structures reported destroyed
🟥 5 firefighters hospitalized (4 for heat exhaustion, 1 for a seizure)
🟥 Arson suspected, cause unknown
The Quarry Fire, reported around 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 30, is burning near Deer Creek Canyon and forced the evacuation of more than 500 homes. However, evacuation orders for Deer Creek Mesa and Kueshter were lifted Saturday evening.
A Jefferson County deputy doing his regular patrol in the area Tuesday night spotted the fire. He encountered a small 10x10 spot fire that grew to 100 acres within about three hours.
According to Mark Techmeyer with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, as of Saturday morning, the fire was still 480 acres in size and 10% contained. He expects containment to jump as firefighters make progress on the fire lines.
Techmeyer urged evacuees to head to Dakota Ridge High School this weekend between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to register with the county and obtain badges that will be useful once the re-entry process starts, which began at 5 p.m. for Deer Creek Mesa and Kueshter residents.
The Quarry Fire is suspected of being an arson after fire investigators found some “weird items” at what they confirmed to be the source of the fire near Deer Creek "above Grizzly in the switchback area."
"I do have a to-go bag," said evacuee Tim Berg, who is a resident at Ken-Caryl Ranch The Valley. "My car's packed and I try to encourage everybody else to do that."
His neighborhood hasn't been forced to evacuate, but it's near the fire and isn't the first one that's sparked close to his home.
"I think for us, you know, the one that this really relates to is the Oak Fire, which was right over here on 470," Berg said. "We did get an evacuation notice for that, and it really just created a lot of unrest."
FEMA has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Quarry Fire.
🟥 WATCH: The latest on the Quarry Fire
Lake Shore Fire
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🟥 Burning in Boulder County near Gross Reservoir
🟥 7 acres
🟥 Fire PIO says fire perimeter is secure
🟥 All evacuation orders lifted
🟥 At least 2 structures destroyed
🟥 No injuries reported
🟥 Likely human-caused and accidental
The fully contained Lake Shore Fire, burning off Lake Shore Park Road near Gross Reservoir, is seven acres and was first reported Wednesday, July 31. The fire destroyed at least two homes.
All evacuation orders were lifted Thursday morning as firefighters made ground on the wildfire. The Boulder Office of Disaster Management said all road closures have been lifted as well.
The Boulder County Sheriff's Office said it is in contact with two individuals regarding the start of the fire. They don't believe it was intentionally set, but it was human-caused.
Western Slope Fires
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🟥 Currant Creek Fire
🟥 Bucktail Fire
The 193-acre Currant Creek Fire is burning five miles northeast of Cedaredge in Delta County and is fully contained. The fire was first reported Saturday, July 27. No structures have been reported lost. The cause of the fire is undetermined.
The 2,941-acre Bucktail Fire is burning 6.5 miles northeast of Nucla in Montrose County and is 5% contained. The fire was first reported around 11:20 a.m. Thursday, August 1. No structures have been reported lost. The cause of the fire is undetermined.
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