The High Park Fire grew very little on Monday, despite another day of red flag warnings and temperatures topping 100 degrees. It is now estimated at 83,262 acres — over 130 square miles, slightly smaller than Las Vegas — with 55 percent containment.
The spot fire that burned 24.5 acres near Halligan Reservoir is expected to be totally contained Monday night.
Yet another red flag warning has been issued for Tuesday beginning at noon. Dry lightning, gusty thunderstorms, winds and very low relative humidity are anticipated.
After evaluating portions of Redstone Canyon, Buckskin Heights and the Stringtown Gulch area, fire officials Monday evening issued an all-clear for residents living from Willow Patch Lane and Buckhorn Road south and from Feverfew Road and Larimer County Road 25E south, including Otter Road and all roads branching off it.
To return to their homes, residents will need to obtain credentials at the 5 p.m. community meeting at Cache La Poudre Middle School, 3515 W. County Road 54G in LaPorte, or at the checkpoint located at Stringtown Gulch Road and County Road 27E or at Colorado Highway 14 at County Road 29C.
Stringtown Gulch Road and roads accessed off it; County Road 29C and McMurray Ranch Road; and Highway 14 from U.S. Highway 287 to Grey Rock Road are open to residents only. A complete list of road closures is available at larimersheriff.org/site-page/high-park-fire-road-information.
The assessment team is also evaluating Rist Canyon and Poudre Canyon. More information on whether residents will be able to return to those areas is expected in the next couple days, depending on fire conditions, according to the Larimer County Sheriff’s Department.
Power was restored to the communications arrays on Buckhorn Mountain on Sunday by Poudre Valley REA crews. The company also reported significant progress rebuilding main power lines primarily in Buckhorn Canyon, Stove Prairie, Stratton Park, Davis Ranch, Whale Rock and Rist Canyon, but service to individual meters in these areas has not been restored at the request of fire command. Power remains off in Glacier View and Redstone Canyon.
The current cost of the fire to date is estimated at $31.5 million.
The High Park Fire Disaster Recovery Center on the Colorado State University Campus at Johnson Hall is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Donations Collection Center at the Foothills Mall is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Go to helpcoloradonow.org for more information.
Information is also available at the Larimer County Emergency Information line at 970-498-5500, where information officers are answering the phone during the day and evening; messages may be left after hours. Other sources are www.larimer.org, @larimersheriff on Twitter or Inciweb at www.inciweb.org/incident/2904/.