High winds and dry timber and brush fueled fires in Larimer and Park counties Thursday, but crews expected snow and rain to help them tame the blazes.

A fire in Cache la Poudre Canyon northwest of Fort Collins erupted at about 5 p.m. and covered 600 acres three hours later. But heavy snow prompted fire managers to send some crews home.

"It's really laying down," said Eloise Campanella, Larimer County sheriff's spokeswoman.

The blaze had spread north from the head of the Hewlett Gulch trail, but the cold weather and snow slowed its growth as of Friday morning.

A Larimer County sheriff's spokeswoman said area homes weren't in danger, but firefighters were stationed nearby as a precaution.

Fire managers expected the blaze to be at least partially contained Friday. The jurisdiction of the fire has been turned over to the Forest Service, said Campanella.

Park County Fire

The fire in Park County was still at 150 acres as of Friday morning, but there was no containment was predicted, 7NEWS reported.

Hot spots continued to flare but snow and rain were forecast for the area, about 12 miles southwest of Bailey, by Friday afternoon.

Firefighters were optimistic the rain and snow forecast for Friday would help.

The fire was burning west of the Lost Creek Wilderness Area near Topaz Mountain. First reported at noon, the fire grew from 25 acres to an estimated 150 acres by evening.

Smoke from the fire prompted the voluntary evacuation of about 120 Jefferson Middle School sixth-graders who were spending the night at the Windy Peak Outdoor Lab School.

No structures were threatened, but fire managers were concerned because the flames were roaring to the tree tops and then jumping from one tree to another, spreading the fire more quickly.

About 80 people were battling the blaze. Three air tankers dropped fire retardant on the flames Thursday, and a helicopter to drop water was ordered for Friday.

Four more 20-member hand crews were expected to arrive Friday morning.

Teller County Fire

In Teller County, a 140-acre fire that ignited Tuesday after high winds knocked a tree into power lines was fully contained Thursday night, said U.S. Forest Service spokesman Terry McCann.

The fire destroyed one home and forced the evacuation of 10 families Tuesday.

Previous Stories:

• April 18, 2002: Forest Fires Burning In Park, Larimer Counties
• April 18, 2002: Fallen Tree To Blame For Forest Fire
• April 17, 2002: Firefighters Hope To Contain Cedar Mountain Fire
• April 16, 2002: Forest Fire Levels Home In Teller County
• April 14, 2002: Nearly 700 Acres Torched By Weekend Wildfires
• April 11, 2002: Small Thornton Fire Threatens Homes
• April 3, 2002: Lake George Fire Contained
• April 2, 2002: Weather Helps Firefighters In Park County
• April 2, 2002: Forest Fire Burning At Pike National Forest
• March 28, 2002: Controlled Burn Gets Out Of Control
• March 13, 2002: Colorado Fire Danger Very Real
• March 12, 2002: Juveniles Charged For Bear Lake Fire
• March 11, 2002: Several Acres Burned At Pike National Forest
• February 12, 2002: Wildfire Burns Field Around East Lake