Due to hot, sunny, windy weather, fire activity has increased on the south end of the Cameron Peak Fire. While we know the fire has grown this afternoon, at this point we do not know exactly how much. The Larimer County Sheriff's Office issued the following emergency message at 2:32 p.m. today: “The Cameron Peak Fire activity has increased in the area south of Highway 14 toward Crown Point, the Pingree Park Road and County Road 44H area. Mandatory Evacuations have been ordered for residents and businesses in the area, up to and including Pennock Pass on County Road 44H due to immediate and imminent danger. Evacuate the area immediately and as quickly as possible. Do not delay leaving to gather belongings or make efforts to protect your home or business. Evacuating immediately not only supports your safety, but also allows emergency crews better access to the area. For updates, text the word LCEVAC to 888777 from your cell phone.”

Trigger points are identified early in an incident. If one of these trigger post is approached, evacuations may be implemented. Evacuation trigger points are designated in locations between active fire areas and values at risk, such as residences and commercial properties. Their placement is designed to alert people of the need to safely leave with sufficient time to evacuate the area. For more information about specific evacuation areas, visit the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office website at https://www.larimer.org/cameron-peak-fire.

Summary:

The Cameron Peak fire grew to 16,602 acres Thursday and remains a full suppression fire. No structures or facilities have been damaged, and no firefighter injuries have been reported.

The southwest corner of the fire received a slight amount of moisture yesterday, which is expected to help moderate fire behavior in the Cameron Pass and Long Draw Road areas.

Forecasters are calling for sunny skies today with temperatures in the upper 70s to lower 80s and northwesterly winds of 10 to 15 mph, gusting to 20 mph in the afternoon. Relative humidity will be 10 – 15%.

The fire has burned to timberline in areas of the Rawah Wilderness. Fire managers are monitoring fire behavior there to verify that fire will not continue burning into high alpine vegetation.

Heavy equipment and hand crews continue to widen road corridors working west to east from the 103 road to Crystal Lakes and Red Feather Lakes. Preparations along the Manhattan Road are largely complete. Work progresses in the Pingree Park area where crews are clearing vegetation along existing trails and roads to connect with alpine areas that are expected to limit further spread of the fire. As this indirect control line construction continues, crews are also exploring additional opportunities for potential control lines closer to the fire.

Closures

Colorado Highway 14 is closed from Rustic to Gould. There is heavy fire traffic through the Poudre Canyon as crews access the fire area.

Larimer County has implemented mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders around the fire area and the forest has implemented a large closure area around the fire. The Canyon Lakes Ranger District is under Stage 2 fire restrictions. Visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd781358.pdf to learn more. Rocky Mountain National Park has implemented a complete fire ban and an area closure. For information see https://www.nps.gov/romo/learn/fire-information-and-regulations.htm.

Summary:

The Cameron Peak Fire grew to 16,461 acres yesterday, and a small amount of rain fell over the fire temporarily lessening fire activity. The Cameron Peak Fire remains a full suppression fire. No structures or facilities have been damaged, and no firefighter injuries have been reported.

Most of Wednesday’s fire spread occurred on the south and west sides of the fire area. In the Rawah Wilderness the fire burned into timberline, a natural barrier that is expected to limit further growth in that direction.

Another fire weather watch has been issued for today due to predicted dry thunderstorms and gusty winds. Over the fire area, temperatures will be in the upper 70s with northwesterly winds of 10 to 20 mph. Relative humidity will be 20 to 30%.

Heavy equipment work continues across the north end of the fire area as well as down Manhattan Road and Pingree Park Road. Hand crews are working in conjunction with heavy equipment to clean up and prepare roads to act as fuel breaks. Structure protection work is continuing as crews move into potentially affected communities farther from the fire. Fire managers are looking for ways to connect man-made control lines with natural barriers in the Joe Wright Reservoir and Long Draw Road area. They are also assessing opportunities to construct additional fire line closer to the fire, giving firefighters multiple options for future containment considering a variety of possible scenarios.

Closures

Colorado Highway 14 is closed from Rustic to Gould. There is heavy fire traffic through the Poudre Canyon as crews access the fire area.

Larimer County has implemented mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders around the fire area, and a Forest closure remains in effect. The Canyon Lakes Ranger District is under Stage 2 fire restrictions. Visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd781358.pdf to learn more. Rocky Mountain National Park has implemented a complete fire ban and an area closure. For information see https://www.nps.gov/romo/learn/fire-information-and-regulations.htm.

Summary:

Firing operations along the Long Draw Road were completed and successful. Plans are to continue burning fuels along Highway 14 from Joe Wright Reservoir toward the junction of Highway 14 and Long Draw Road. Operations personnel are reporting minimal growth of the fire today with only isolated pockets of burning. The fire has not made it to the West Branch Tunnel area.

Summary:

The Cameron Peak Fire grew to 14,018 acres yesterday. The most significant growth occurred along the west and southwest flanks of the fire, in the Rawah Wilderness and near Cameron Pass, where crews contained multiple spot fires across Highway 14 and Long Draw Road. No structures or facilities have been damaged. Managers’ objective is full suppression of this fire.

The weather over the fire today is expected to be similar to yesterday, with highs in the upper 70s. Winds will be out of the north at 5 to 15 mph, with 15 to 20% relative humidity. Isolated dry thunderstorms are possible in the afternoon.

Structure protection work continues throughout the affected area, with crews cutting out brush and other vegetation that is close to homes and other buildings, and setting up hose, pumps and sprinklers where needed. A variety of heavy equipment is being used to remove fuels along roads to connect with existing fuel breaks across the north end of the fire area. If conditions are favorable, crews will conduct burnout operations along the north side of Highway 14, to establish an anchor point from which containment can begin to be secured.

Fire managers are engaging with Colorado State University and Rocky Mountain National Park, identifying features and opportunities for placement of potential containment lines along the south end of the fire area.

Closures

Colorado Highway 14 is closed from Rustic to Gould. There is heavy fire traffic through the Poudre Canyon as crews access the fire area.

The acreage reported for the Cameron Peak Fire remains at 12,323 with 0% containment.
 Helicopters are being used along the west side of Long Draw Road and along Colorado Highway 14 to keep the fire from crossing either of those roads again, as east/northeast winds are pushing the fire to the west and southwest.
 Additional resources continue to arrive. As they arrive, these crews, engines, and heavy equipment are being sent out to areas around the fire to begin work.

Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are now in place for Canyon Lakes Ranger District. All campfires, grills, and camp stoves are prohibited on US Forest Lands within boundaries below. Read the Fire Order at https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd781358.pdf

Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are now in place for Canyon Lakes Ranger District. All campfires, grills, and camp stoves are prohibited on US Forest Lands within boundaries below. Read the Fire Order at https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd781358.pdf