High Park Fire — Day 10

After working in temperatures above 90 degrees on Monday, the 1,773 personnel working on the High Park Fire have achieved 50 percent containment. The fire has consumed an estimated 58,770 acres — 91 square miles, larger than Amarillo, Texas — since it was started by lightning and first reported on Saturday, June 9.

The winds that were predicted for Monday did not materialize over much of the fire area, allowing aircraft to support the effort with water and retardant drops. Firefighters made good progress on lines on the southeast flank, holding the fire south of Poudre Canyon and north of Buckhorn Road.

An additional eight homes have been confirmed lost in the Buckhorn area down to Redstone Canyon, according to the Larimer County Sheriff’s Department. This brings the total of homes lost to the fire to 189. The next scheduled report from the assessment teams is set for the 3 p.m. citizen’s briefing at The Ranch, I-25 and Crossroads Boulevard in Loveland. Residents who live in areas where property damage has been confirmed can call 970-619-4086 to find out the status of their home. This phone line is staffed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and messages can be left after hours. The evacuation center at Cache La Poudre Middle School in LaPorte also remains open.

No new evacuations were ordered on Monday. For a complete list of areas that remain evacuated, go to www.larimer.org/emergency. For a list of road closures, visit larimersheriff.org/site-page/high-park-fire-road-information. For the latest updated map of the High Park Fire, go to
larimer.org/highparkfire/highpark_0617_2200.pdf.

The sheriff’s office reports that roaming patrols, National Guard personnel and video surveillance are being used to ensure that evacuated residences are not targets of looting.

On Friday, June 15, South Bay and Inlet Bay of Horsetooth Reservoir opened for camping and boating, but boat-in campsites remain closed until Wednesday. All areas of Santanka Cove, at the north end of Horsetooth Reservoir, remain closed to access by both land and water. Boating on the north end of the reservoir will be restricted indefinitely in support of helicopter use for the High Park Fire. Buoys will be in place noting restricted areas.

Horsetooth Mountain Open Space, including Horsetooth Mountain Open Space Trailhead and Soderberg Trailhead, and Eagle’s Nest Open Space remain closed.

Although a Red Flag Warning remains in effect over the fire area for Tuesday, the weather looks to be slightly cooler with higher relative humidity. On the west side of the fire winds will be out of the west and on the east side out of the northeast. If the opposing winds materialize, significant eddying may create the potential for extreme fire behavior.

Wednesday is forecast to have lower humidity, higher temperatures and the possibility for stronger winds.

The High Park Fire Disaster Recovery Center on the Colorado State University Campus at Johnson Hall is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Information is also available at the Larimer County Emergency Information line at 970-498-5500, on Twitter @larimersheriff, or Inciweb at www.inciweb.org/incident/2904/.