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Cameron Peak Fire grows to 15,738 with 0% containment

Fire is about 4 miles northwest of Rocky Mountain National Park
cameron peak fire friday aug 14
Posted at 11:01 AM, Aug 19, 2020
and last updated 2020-08-20 13:03:04-04

Click here for Thursday's update on the Cameron Peak Fire.

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LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. — The Cameron Peak Fire grew about 1,700 acres overnight and is burning about four miles northwest of Rocky Mountain National Park.

The fire is 15,738 acres and 0% contained as 9:30 p.m. Wednesday. It was estimated at 14,018 acres on Tuesday.

The public affairs staff of the Arapaho Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland said Wednesday night a small amount of rain fell over the fire, "helping moderate fire behavior despite gusty wind tossing burning embers across Highway 14 near Joe Wright Reservoir."

No structures have been damaged and no injuries have been reported at this fire.

Law enforcement is still investigating the cause of the fire and is asking for any photos the public may have from the trails located south of Cameron Peak, especially photos taken of active fire adjacent to any trails. Share those photos with SM.FS.usfsarp@usda.gov and call 307-745-2392, option 5, if you have any other information about how the fire started.

Paul Hohn, operations section chief for the Rocky Mountain Incident Command's Blue Team, said crews made progress along the Laramie River Road/County Road 103 on Tuesday and they will continue to move north on Wednesday.

The division on the northeast side has finished its preparation work and is continuing to evaluate and buff up the fire lines from Colorado Highway 14 into the Red Feather Lakes area. Hohn said crews will focus on the Highway 14 corridor area and its structures on Wednesday. A separate crew will do the same along the Highway 12 corridor.

Crews will begin operations to put an indirect fire line near Colorado State University Mountain Campus in Pingree Valley.

Hohn said firefighters will use a hand line to go into the wilderness and improve conditions for a trail with a plan to tie into the high country and alpine tundra on the border of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Firefighters along the fire's southern edge experienced containment issues Tuesday, Hohn said. Previously, they worked to hold the fire off at Long Draw Road where it intersects with Highway 14. Around 3 p.m. Tuesday, firefighters started to fight multiple small fires that sparked across Highway 14 near the Joe Wright Reservoir from embers flying off the tall conifer trees, Hohn said. Air crews helped those on the ground until the winds became too strong and they were forced to land.

Hohn said firefighters are going into this area Wednesday morning to evaluate the damage and determine how to proceed with their firefighting plans.

Fire officials plan to host a community meeting on the fire's Facebook page Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.

Firefighters haven't spread to the Monument Hill area as of Tuesday, he said, but noted that the Larimer County Sheriff's Office has already evaluated the communities for fire risk and shared their findings and maps with fire officials.

A Fire Weather Watch is in effect for Wednesday due to dry thunderstorms and gusty winds.

On Tuesday afternoon, Rocky Mountain National Park put in place temporary closures in the northwestern area of the park out of an abundance of caution because the fire is burning about four miles from the park’s northwest edge.

Among the closures are Mummy Pass Trail, Comanche Peak Trail, Mirror Lake Trail, Poudre River Trail, Crater Trail, Colorado River Trail, Red Mountain Trail, Grand Ditch Access, Skeleton Gulch Trail, Thunder Pass Trail, Little Yellowstone Trail, Holzwarth Historic Site beyond the historic site, Cascade Creek, Cache La Poudre, South Cache La Poudre, Hague Creek and Mosquito Creek.

In addition, Colorado Highway 14 is closed from Rustic to Gould.

Cameron Peak Fire officials said they are issuing credentials for residents and property owners for Red Feather Lakes, Crystal Lakes, Rustic, the Pingree Hill area and people who have already evacuated.

Residents of those areas can stop by the following locations Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to pick up credentials:

  • Red Feather Lakes Community Center at 58 Fire House Lane, Red Feather Lakes
  • Crystal Lake Base Camp at 300 Tami Road, Red Feather Lakes
  • Stove Prairie Elementary School at 3891 Stove Prairie Road, Bellvue

Click here for more information on what you’ll need to bring.

The following areas are under evacuation orders: Long Draw Road, Long Draw Reservoir area, Deadman Road between County Roads 103 and 73C, Manhattan Road between Rustic and Boy Scout Ranch Road, and Pingree Park south and west of Crown Point.

People who have to evacuate can text LCEVAC to 888777 for updates. More information on evacuations, road closures and emergency alerts can be found here.