Soldier and Mill canyons open again

The Larimer County Sheriff’s Department has announced that residents may return to their homes to Soldier Canyon and Mill Canyon Estates as of at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 20, with proper identification with proof of residency. If conditions around the High Park Fire worsen, this area may be required to evacuate again.

Fire officials have also issued an all-clear as of noon Wednesday for the area south and east of McNay Hill, south of County Road 74E, which includes Hewlett Gulch Road, Deer Meadow Way, Gordon Creek Lane and connecting roadways. This does not include the Glacier View Meadows filings 9-12, which remain under a mandatory evacuation.

The sheriff’s office requests that returning residents stay off the roadways between the hours of 4 and 5 p.m. to allow fire crews to change shifts. Residents only need identification with proof of residency to enter this area, no credentials required.

Residents south of Horsetooth Reservoir from Milner Ranch Road to Gindler Ranch have also been allowed back in. However, the Stratton Park area is still under evacuation.

Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association restored power to the Mill Canyon and Soldier Canyon areas Tuesday, and turned off power to about 450 meters Glacier View Meadows, Deer Meadows and Pingree Park. Power was also out in Redstone Canyon, Buckskin Heights and Hewlett Gulch as of 3 p.m. Tuesday. The main power line from Gateway to Poudre Park has been rebuilt; however, no service has been restored to individual meters on this line. PVREA crews are also working to restore power to the Buckhorn Mountain communications arrays.

PVREA customer/members who have lost a home or other structure with metered electric service should contact the coop to stop billing charges or change the account at 800-432-1012.

The High Park Fire is estimated at 65,738 acres with 55 percent containment as of noon Wednesday. The current cost of fighting the fire is estimated at $17.2 million.