New Fire in the Poudre Canyon

[Eli Watson]

Yep, we are in SLC with our daughter in Ft Collins, concerned...

If it's any consolation, Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith went on record to state "there's little concern about it causing evacuations in Fort Collins, Loveland or Estes Park. The heavy timbers that are fueling the fire aren't available the near the cities as it approaches."

[Kiefer]

God. I hope hey get a handle on this soon. I spent 9 years in Fort Collins (university), running all around the Poudre, Redfeather, Pingree Park, Comanche NF, Long Draw and Cameron Pass. And another 5 years living up in Estes Park. I feel terrible for those being forced to evac. The whole area/terrain up there is DRY with thick forest. TONS of needles carpeting the ground.
I did a short stint marking and noting trees from the aftermath of the Black Forest Fire with a contractor. The damage is jaw-dropping, unlike anything you've seen.

I haven't come across anything on origination. Was it naturally started?

[Monster5]

I had a crew working a few miles north when it started. Plume was first noted about 2PM 8/13 somewhat off in nowhere land. Cause still under investigation. No lightning that day or the day before that we noted.

LP Fire.jpg (147.2 KiB) Viewed 2884 times

lp fire start.JPG (185.14 KiB) Viewed 2884 times

[timewarp01]

I was in the area the day it got going and can guarantee it wasn't lightning.

[greenonion]

Yep, we are in SLC with our daughter in Ft Collins, concerned...

If it's any consolation, Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith went on record to state "there's little concern about it causing evacuations in Fort Collins, Loveland or Estes Park. The heavy timbers that are fueling the fire aren't available the near the cities as it approaches."

Thanks, Eli. Appreciate this.

[greenonion]

Monster. Are you part of a fire crew for USFS or another agency?

[nyker]

Wow, this is huge. I am not too familiar with that area north of RMNP around its surrounds. In looking at the map below, seems to be encroaching on some residential areas (or already has). How close to any residential areas is this fire?
Or is it more in the national forest area/higher elevations?

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/photos/COARF/2 ... 8-CDT.jpeg

[HikerGuy]

How close to any residential areas is this fire?
Or is it more in the national forest area/higher elevations?

Mostly the latter, but it blazed through several mountain residential areas in yesterday's huge run.

[cougar]

It's burning towards and through some of the burn scar of the 2012 High Park fire (90k acres) which burned hundreds of homes. Up until now it had been burning mostly in wilderness and national forest but still burned some homes and buildings. There are more homes farther east. The 2012 fire burned heavy fuels but there's still undergrowth and pockets of areas that can burn, but they said the previous burn would just slow down the fire, not stop it in those areas. Part of the containment strategy has been letting it burn up to the treeline and tundra along the RMNP boundary and just to the north (hence the 'arms' on the map), although Glen Haven just outside Estes Park is seriously threatened at the moment as it has burned through lower elevation terrain and passes. It's within a couple miles of relatively densely developed subdivisions all along its eastern end and has burned through some yesterday. The direct line to Estes Park would have to burn over Lumpy Ridge and some open ranchland to hit the town (still a few homes in that area). Sheriff mentioned the winds pick up and get funneled through the canyons which fed its about 14 mile advance yesterday, including over Signal Mtn which is just above treeline.

[roy1745]

My in-laws have 40 acres with a small cabin in the area that blew up yesterday. The High Park fire missed it as it stayed north of Buckhorn Road and their property is south in the Moody Hill area. It's a place where our family goes camping, but not their primary residence, but all along that stretch there are quite a few people that live there full time. Neighbors that had a camera on their property could see the fire on their video feed before it went dark, so it definitely swept through there. Waiting game now until it's safe to go back in and see what remains. Very sad as they've had the land since 1993.

[greenonion]

My in-laws have 40 acres with a small cabin in the area that blew up yesterday. The High Park fire missed it as it stayed north of Buckhorn Road and their property is south in the Moody Hill area. It's a place where our family goes camping, but not their primary residence, but all along that stretch there are quite a few people that live there full time. Neighbors that had a camera on their property could see the fire on their video feed before it went dark, so it definitely swept through there. Waiting game now until it's safe to go back in and see what remains. Very sad as they've had the land since 1993.

That does suck. Especially for those living there permanently. It’s not just in California. But I’m preaching to the choir

[Cygnus X1]

Here is great link to info on the Cameron Peak fire.

https://nifc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSe ... -4wnCpA6os

The fire has already traveled 60 miles east from its origin and has reached Stove Prairie Road (CR27). Strong westerly winds are forecasted for today and tomorrow. With the upcoming predicted strong winds and considering the nearly 30,000 acre run the fire made a couple days ago, if the fire makes another similar run it's not out of the question that the fire could reach Horsetooth Mountain Park on the west side of Fort Collins/Horsetooth Reservoir very soon.