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Alexanderberg fire, quarry fire, lake
Colorado wildfire updates for Wednesday, August 7, 2024
Fire crews across the state continued Wednesday to gain or hold containment lines for the three remaining active wildfires.
Since July 29, wildfires in Larimer, Boulder, Montrose and Jefferson counties have killed one person, damaged or destroyed more than 50 buildings, evacuated thousands of people and charred about 15,000 acres.
Firefighters nearly doubled the containment of the quarry fire in Jefferson County on Tuesday, from 45% in the morning to 82% that afternoon. The containment of the Alexanderberg fire also exceeded 80% on Tuesday.
The remaining wildfire – the Bucktail Fire in Montrose County – continues to grow on national forest land as firefighters fight to secure fire lines around it.
The Lake Shore fire in Boulder County was fully extinguished last week, and Boulder County officials announced Sunday that firefighters had fully contained the Stone Canyon fire. The flames in the closed area can continue to burn for days or weeks.
Click here to go to a specific brand: Quarry fire | Alexanderberg Fire | Bucktail fire | Map of wildfires
Quarry fire near Deer Creek Canyon
- Access to the latest evacuation map here
Last updated at 6:45 am
The Quarry Fire burning more than 500 acres in Jefferson County was 82% contained as of Tuesday evening and the fire line remained strong Wednesday.
The 578-acre fire, which forced nearly 600 homes to evacuate after it started late July 30, has not destroyed any structures, fire officials said. .
All mandatory evacuations due to the quarry fire in Jefferson County were lifted at 10 a.m. Tuesday morning. sheriff’s officials said.
Residents can go home, but must get their credentials at the Dakota Ridge High School evacuation center before entering their neighborhood. According to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
“Current mandatory evacuation neighborhoods will be moved to pre-evacuation status,” sheriff’s officials said in Tuesday morning’s update. “Current pre-evacuation neighborhoods will be moved to non-status.”
Only residents with a pass will be allowed into the previously evacuated area through Thursday, sheriff’s officials said. Deer Creek Canyon Road remains closed between Grizzly Drive and Phillipsburg while fire crews work to clean up.
The evacuation center was permanently closed Tuesday at 6 p.m., sheriff’s officials said.
“The major animal evacuation site at Jeffco Fairgrounds is asking that those who are no longer in pre-evacuation status make arrangements to pick up their animals,” sheriff’s officials said Tuesday. “If you are currently in pre-evacuation, you may keep your animals on the fairgrounds until your status is changed.”
No details were available Wednesday morning about the ongoing investigation into the arson. Anyone with information about how the fire started can call the Quarry Fire Tip Line at 303-271-5612.
Alexander Mountain fire near Loveland
- Access to the latest evacuation map here
Last updated at 6:40 am
Firefighters achieved 83% containment Monday on the Alexander Mountain fire with 9,668 aces, and lines continued to hold Wednesday.
The fire, which started on July 29, is burning in the Roosevelt National Forest and on private land 10 miles west of Loveland.
As of Wednesday, 26 homes and 21 outbuildings had been destroyed in the Storm Mountain and Cedar Park areas, and four more homes were damaged.
Larimer County Sheriff John Feyen said it is possible that more damaged or destroyed structures will be found, and the Larimer County Office of Emergency Management has contacted people with known damage to structures to provide resources and next steps.
The cause of the forest fire will be further investigated on Wednesday. Feyen said Monday that investigators found signs of human activity and multiple lightning strikes near where the fire started.
Control of the fire will transition from the Southwest Incident Management Team to the U.S. Forest Service and the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office at 6 a.m. Friday, fire officials said in a Tuesday evening update.
“Community members may see smoke and smoldering fire activity in the fire area, but the perimeter is not expected to expand,” officials said in the update.
As of Tuesday evening, mandatory evacuation orders had been lifted for the area along County Road 43 west of Drake to Old Bridge Road, as well as Waltonia Road. According to police, the area is now under voluntary evacuation orders evacuation map.
Fire officials said residents in these areas should be able to access their homes or property from Estes Park as US 34 remains closed west from Idlewild to Waltonia.
The rough boundaries of the mandatory evacuation zone Wednesday morning includes Storm Mountain to the north, US 34 to the east, Sheep Mountain to the south and Bobcat Ridge Natural area to the west.
Anyone with information can call the Forest Service Law Enforcement Tip Line at 303-275-5266.
Bucktail fire near Nucla
Last updated at 6:35 am
The Bucktail Fire, burning on more than 3,700 acres of land near Nucla in Montrose County, was 10% contained as of Tuesday evening.
The fire was first reported on private property on August 1 and quickly grew to nearly 2,000 hectares. By Tuesday, the fire had charred 3,788 hectares, firefighters said.
The fire is burning in pinyon pine, juniper and scrub oaks and has spread to U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands in Uncompahgre National Forest, according to a map provided by fire officials.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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