At 4 p.m. Tuesday, the High Park Fire was holding steady at 43,433 acres burned with 5 percent containment. Fire managers reported the western flank of the fire is active and continues to be an area of concern, particularly as it moves into an area that contains 70 percent beetle-killed trees. The northwest portion of the fire is actively burning, with single-tree torching.
A 120-acre spot fire on the north side of Colorado Highway 14 has been contained as of Tuesday afternoon. Any residents of Poudre Canyon who have not yet evacuated are asked to leave now.
An evacuation order is in place for Pingree Park Road, Hourglass and Comanche reservoirs, east on Buckhorn Road up to and including Pennock Pass, northeast to the junction with Stove Prairie Road and Highway 14; and west to the junction of Colorado Highway 15 and Pingree Park Road. This includes CSU’s Pingree Park Campus and Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp. Residents are asked to leave now due to the extreme fire behavior on the west flank and the limited access in and out.
Roads are closed south of County Road 74E, including Hewlett Gulch Road, Deer Meadow Way, Gordon Creek Lane and all connecting roads in that area. This closure does not include CR74E, but residents only are allowed in this area.
Some 50 National Guard members have been called in to assist with roadblocks.
More information is available from Larimer County Emergency Management at 970-498-5500.