The Larimer County Office of Emergency Management is launching a Disaster Assistance Center for anyone impacted by the Alexander Mountain Fire.

The center will provide information and resources from various organizations. It will include details on:

• Debris removal
• Flood risks
• Homeowner and renter resources
• Mental health counseling
• Land rehabilitation

The center will be open at the Ranch Event Complex, , CO, 80538

• Friday, August 9, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, August 10, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Sunday, August 11, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The Alexander Mountain Fire is 91% contained. It's burned 9.668 acres. A total of 51 homes have been damaged or lost.

Cool, wet weather has moved in, and the fire is not growing. Fire behavior continues to decrease and is staying within its current footprint with no significant smoke.

Although personnel on the fire have decreased significantly over the last two days, resources remain on the scene. Firefighters continue to patrol the area, secure containment lines, and mop up any remaining hot spots.

Mandatory evacuation orders have been lifted, and Highway 34 is open to the public.

The Complex Incident Management Team, which has been in charge of the incident since August 1, will relinquish control of the fire to local fire staff of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests on August 9 at 6:00 a.m.

The Joint Information Center has closed, and the primary contact or recovery support is .

Re-entry credentialing for area residents is available at .

Still holding at 9.668 acres with 83% containment.

Today 405 people are working on the fire.

Crews are focused repairs.

US 34 is completely open but drivers are encouraged to drive with caution because workers are in place working on reinstating power.

Still working on containing the northern edges of the fire.

Evacuation orders for the area along CR43 west of Drake to Old Bridge Rd has been lifted. Evacuation orders for Waltonia Rd have also been lifted.
Residents in these areas will need to access their homes or properties from Estes Park as US 34 remains closed. There are currently no utilities in these areas; however, crews are working to restore services as soon as possible.

Please visit for a map of the updated evacuation areas.

Highway 34 is now open to Idlewild Lane. The highway is still closed from Idlewild west to Waltonia.

Two evacuation orders have been lifted. They include the area along County Road 43 west of Drake to Old Bridge Road and Waltonia Road.

Residents in these areas will need to access their homes or properties from Estes Park. Most utilities remain turned off for those areas, and crews are working to restore services as soon as possible.

According to the Southwest Incident Management Team. the Alexander Mountain Fire is estimated at 9,668 acres with 74% containment.

Several mandatory evacuation orders were downgraded and voluntary evacuations were lifted today. This area is currently open to residents only, and people must show proof of address at the roadblock.

Visit to see a map of the updated evacuation areas and road closures. The decision to downgrade and lift evacuations is based on several factors, including fire conditions, utility restoration, and the safety of fire and utility crews working in the area.

For more information on the credentialing process and locations to obtain credentials, visit .

鈥淔irefighters and our entire incident team made significant progress over the last several days, and I鈥檓 so thankful for the nonstop effort of everyone on this wildfire,鈥� said Larimer County Sheriff John Feyen. 鈥淲e want to get people back to their homes as soon as possible, but not at the expense of safety.鈥�

LCSO continues to operate the Joint Information Center (JIC), which can be reached at (970) 980-2500. The JIC closed at 5:00 p.m. on August 5 and will reopen on August 6 at 8:00 a.m. People can also access a list of resources, maps, and other information on the .

The Community Foundation of Northern Colorado has established the Northern Colorado Disaster Recovery Fund to meet the immediate and long-term relief and recovery needs of the people and places affected in Northern Colorado. More information is available online at . Scams are common in the wake of disasters. Please note that there are no official donation portals via Venmo, PayPal, Cash App, Zelle, cryptocurrency.

After a productive weekend of firefighting, the Alexander Mountain Fire has burned across 9,668 acres and is 54% contained. Sunday saw very few firefighting aircraft take to the skies after a busy and productive Saturday.

Firefighting efforts are now shifting into a 鈥渄ifferent phase,鈥� as fire managers begin to pack up some equipment and send aircraft and firefighters elsewhere in the country.

鈥淭hings are positive enough that we are in a position to start releasing some of the resources,鈥� said Andy Lyon with the fire鈥檚 Incident Management Team. 鈥淲e are releasing a hotshot crew to another fire today. We are releasing some of the big helicopters. So that鈥檚 a good sign.鈥�

Also today, evacuees are beginning the process of returning to their homes to assess damage. Officials are giving credentials to evacuated residents so they can gain access to once-closed areas. So far, 26 homes were destroyed by the fire and four more were damaged.

Though they have not been issued yet, fire and law enforcement announced today they will be requiring re-entry credentials from all residents before they will be allowed to return to their homes. This is to prevent looting and to keep traffic and safety as a top priority.

At this time there are not immediate plans to lift evacuation orders.

Credentialing locations will beopen for residents and property owners from the Storm Mountain and Cedar Park communities beginning on Monday, August 5.

Where:
Larimer County Loveland Campus, 200 Peridot Ave, Loveland CO 80537
Estes Park Event Center, 1125 Rooftop Way, Estes Park, CO 80517
When:
Monday, August 5, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday, August 6, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
If you have questions regarding credentialing or need assistance outside of the hours listed, please reach out to the Call Center at (970) 980-2800 for more information.
Go to this website for specific resident locations and more instructions:

The Southwest Incident Management Team said the fire remains at 9,668 acres with 32% containment. The fire did not move overnight and crews were able to focus on structure protection in communities and along US 34.

The Damage Assessment Team has been able to assess damaged properties and is reaching out to homeowners.

They are still looking to contact property owners with property on the following roads:
鈥� Cedar Creek Road
鈥� Spruce Mountain Drive
鈥� Green Ridge Road
鈥� Possum Court
鈥� Palisade Mountain Drive
鈥� Snow Top Drive
鈥� Bobcat Drive

For the most up to date evacuation information visit nocoalert.org or text LCEVAC to 888777. The Joint Information Center can be reached at 970-980-2500. Information has been released on damaged structures. If you believe your property may be impacted, please call the Damage Assessment Center at 970-980-2800 to provide current contact information to the Office of Emergency Management.

All Clear areas: East of County Road 27 from Hwy 34 to Masonville. Pinewood, Flatirons, Carter Reservoir area, including Pole Hill. Glen Haven, and the Dunraven Glade Retreat area.

Downgraded to Voluntary Evacuation: County Rd 43 from the Retreat to Drake. East from the Little Dam Store including Green Ridge Glade Reservoir, Eden Valley, Bobcat Natural Area, Sylvan Dale.

The fire grew about 1,000 acres overnight and it鈥檚 now about 9,000 acres total and just 5% contained.

More than 300 firefighting personnel are working on the fire.

Fire managers say they are monitoring potential thunderstorms today, which could cause shifts in the wind. They鈥檒l be focusing on maintaining fire lines and managing the safety of firefighters and the community.

Yesterday, the Larimer County Sheriff鈥檚 office said two dozen structures had been damaged or destroyed by the fire. Today, they鈥檒l continue assessing properties.

Larimer County officials report that voluntary evacuation orders have been lifted for residents in the area of Hidden Valley east of Devils Backbone and residents off of Ridge Pkwy.

Here's the latest map of evacuation areas:

According to Larimer County officials, mandatory evacuation orders have been changed to voluntary evacuation for residents in the following locations:

• Off Glade Rd, from Hwy 34 up to W CR 38E
• Near Riverview RV Park
• North along Buckhorn Rd to Woods Rose Ln
• North of Carter Lake in the area of CR18E from CR31 to CR29

Brandon Woodward, Operations Section Chief with Southwest Team 1 incident management, gave a perimeter briefing on the Alexander Fire earlier today:

South: Crews continue working to prevent the fire from jumping across Hwy 34. According to Woodward, firelines there are "holding well."

East: Bulldozers and hand crews worked yesterday, making "excellent progress."

North: Crews and dozers continue containment work.

West/Cedar Park Subdivision: Lots of resources there to protect structures.

Crews are also engaged in "point protection," which sends resources to priority populated areas to do Firewise-style mitigation efforts around homes and structures.

Woodward added that additional local, state, and federal resources have been ordered and are already starting to arrive.

Alexander Mountain Fire stats (as of 10 a.m.)

• Size: 9,194 acres
• Containment: 5%
• Personnel: 327

Incoming thunderstorms could cause wind shifts. Firefighters will focus on maintaining lines and managing their safety and the safety of the community.

Larimer County Sheriff鈥檚 Office Emergency Services report finding that at least two dozen structures in the immediate area of Palisade Mountain Drive and Snow Top Drive were damaged or destroyed by the fire. The structures are believed to be a combination of homes and outbuildings.

Damage Assessment Teams will assess the impacted properties Friday morning, as fire conditions allow. Affected property owners will be notified by the sheriff鈥檚 office after their assessment.

The fire has now been mapped at 8,089 acres with containment at 1%. More than 260 firefighters and air support are on scene.

The Southwest Area Incident Management Team took over firefighting operations this morning. Earlier today, Operations Section Chief Jayson Coil noted that most of his team has been working fires for more than 20 years and has a history of managing complex incidents. They will give regular updates each morning and offer more frequent updates as conditions warrant.

Crews continue to hold fire lines in the northeast perimeter, protect homes in the Cedar Park area, and make sure the flames do not move into the Storm Mountain housing area. On the north perimeter, the fire is approaching the Cameron Peak Fire burn scar, which will slow or stop its advance in that direction.

Firefighters also continue to work on protecting the US 34 corridor and prevent the fire from jumping the highway and moving into more dry fuels to the south.

Coil also noted that competition for resources is "very high" with other fires.

The Board of Larimer County Commissioners, based on a recommendation by the county sheriff, enacted fire restrictions in unincorporated parts of the county on Wednesday.

The restrictions began at 4:13 p.m. on July 31 and will remain in effect until 8:00 a.m. on August 31, 2024.

Restrictions include:

• Open fires, contained open fires, including camp or cooking fires
• Smoking in the open is not allowed, including on trails, parks and open spaces.
• Fireworks or firework displays.
• Incendiary devices, including sky lanterns, exploding ammunition, exploding targets, and tracer ammunition.
• Welding

What's allowed:

• Fireplaces or wood stoves located inside a residence
• Gas-fueled fires, including grills and camping stoves

Visit the for more information.

An air quality specialist has been assigned to the Alexander Mountain Fire.

Meanwhile, the Colorado Dept. of Public Health & Environment has issued an .

And here's the .

In a nutshell: Today, air quality will be bad. Tomorrow (Friday), possible storms will bring gusty winds that may limit the accumulation of pollutants. However, windy conditions could increase fire behavior.

This weekend, ozone levels should decrease, but air quality levels will be dependent on fire activity.

The Southwest Area Incident Management Team 1 assumed command of the #AlexanderMountainFire this morning.

Fire stats:

• 7,648 acres
• 1% contained
• 450 personnel

A new is also available and serves as the official account for the Alexander Mountain Fire.

The Alexander Mountain Fire is now at 7,648 acres and is 1% contained. Fire growth was mostly on the northwest side of the fire. Fire crews successfully worked on securing the east perimeter near Sylvan Dale Ranch.

Firefighters will continue working the fire overnight.

A Southwest Area Management Team will take command of the fire at 6 a.m. tomorrow (Thursday).

The Larimer County Joint Information Center will continue to operate and provide information on evacuations and road closures.

Voluntary Evacuations have been ordered for citizens in Glen Haven, west towards Dark Mountain.

Gather essential items and PREPARE FOR EVACUATION.

Text LCEVAC to 888777 for updates. Go to for a map of the evacuation area.

The NOCO Alert Map can be found .

Mandatory Evacuations ordered for the area of Dunraven Glade, along CR43, including Streamside Drive and Dunraven Glade Rd. The evacuation area extends north past Miller Fork Rd and Dunraven Trailhead. Residents in this area were previously under voluntary evacuations but are now upgraded to mandatory evacuation status and should EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY.

Text LCEVAC to 888777 for updates. Go to www.nocoalert.org for a map of the evacuation area.

Mandatory Evacuations ordered for the area of Dunraven Glade, along CR43, including Streamside Drive and Dunraven Glade Rd. The evacuation area extends north past Miller Fork Rd and Dunraven Trailhead. Residents in this area were previously under voluntary evacuations but are now upgraded to mandatory evacuation status and should EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY.

Text LCEVAC to 888777 for updates. Go to www.nocoalert.org for a map of the evacuation area.

Scott Franz

/

KUNC

No injuries have been reported, and no structures have been lost in the Alexander Mountain fire, according to the Larimer County sheriff.

Gov. Jared Polis is briefing reporters this afternoon. He outlined the aerial assets being used on fires right now: Fire hawk helicopter taking water out of Horsetooth Reservoir, two helicopters from Wyoming, three air tankers, and two aerial reconnaissance planes.

"These resources are nimble, they move where they鈥檙e needed most," Polis said.

The National Interagency Fire Center is also reporting the fire has now grown to 6,809 acres.

Jenny Coll, an evacuee of the Alexander Mountain Fire, worked to cancel bookings to her Airbnb this week due to the blaze. Coll spent the night at a shelter for evacuees at the Foundations Church in Loveland.

Scott Franz

/

KUNC

Scott Franz

/

KUNC

Incident Commander Mike Smith provided updates this morning including a priority of holding and focusing on the Cedar Grove area.

Scott Franz

/

KUNC

Gov. Jared Polis shakes hands with volunteer Doug Zylstra at the evacuation shelter for the Alexander Mountain Fire near Loveland. Polis is meeting with officials and providing an update on the fire early this afternoon.

The Alexander Mountain Fire now covers an estimated 5,080 acres, having nearly tripled in size since the previous morning. It is 0% contained.

Officials with the U.S. Forest Service expect fire activity to increase with today's forecast of hot, dry and windy conditions. Temperatures in the area are expected to reach the upper 90s.

New equipment and crews are joining the fight today, including some hotshot crews. Yesterday, the firefighting efforts involved 277 people.

"We are a priority in the country," said U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Reghan Cloudman. "We are thankful for the resources that we have, both those coming in from across the nation but also all of those here locally in Colorado that are coming together to fight this fire."

The Alexander Mountain Fire, burning west of Loveland, has grown significantly. Aircraft estimate the blaze has reached 5,080 acres. The fire remains at zero containment as firefighters plan to work overnight.

Meanwhile, the Stone Canyon Fire is estimated to have reached 1,320 acres and is also zero percent contained. Two structures have been destroyed.

Boulder and Larimer Counties are sharing resources and support to tackle two wildfires about 8 miles apart. The Stone Canyon Fire has burned at least 100 acres north of Lyons. It started around 1:30 this afternoon.

"Within an hour we had a lot more support than we might on a normal initial fire because of the fire burning north of us, those air resources are continuing to work, both the Stone Canyon Fire and the Alexander Mountain Fire as needed," Boulder County Sheriff Curtis Johnson said at a media briefing. "They will continue as long as weather conditions permit."

Johnson said his officers were in Larimer County on Monday helping evacuate residents from the Alexander Mountain Fire that started north of Highway 34. That's grown to over 3,500 acres with zero containment.

Multiple evacuation orders are in place for both fires. Those evacuating Lyons are being asked to go south on U.S. 36 or east on State Highway 66. An evacuation zone has been set up at the Boulder County Fairgrounds.

The Estes Park Events Complex has been set up for those evacuating the Alexander Mountain Fire.

The has a great list of resources for the public if you want to help people affected by the fire.

The voluntary evacuation order from the north side of Carter Lake, north to Highway 34 has been upgraded to a mandatory evacuation order. Residents in the area should evacuate immediately.

The app Watch Duty now reports the Alexander Mountain Fire is at more than 3,500 acres.

Another evacuation order has been issued for County Road 43 from Drake to just west of Old Bridge Road.

Evacuation centers have been set up at Namaqua Elementary School at 209 N. Namaqua Ave. and at the Estes Park Events Complex at 1125 Rooftop Way, Estes Park. Evacuation locations for animals have been set up at The Ranch Events Center, NoCo Humane Society and Island Grove Regional Park. The NoCo Humane Society for evacuation asks that you call 970-226-3647, opt. 0 for more information.

Travelers should know that U.S. 34 is closed between County Road 29 and County Road 43 because of the fire.

Evacuation Centers

• , 209 N. Namaqua Ave. Loveland
• , 125 Rooftop Way, Estes Park
• , 1380 Denver Ave., Loveland

Animal Shelters

• , 501 N 14th Ave, Greeley, CO
• , 5290 Arena Circle, Loveland
• , 3501 E 71st St., Loveland

Mandatory Evacuations
To access the evacuation zone map, .

• Drake to Dam Store along Highway 34 including Storm Mountain and Palisade Mountain
• Area of Waltonia Road, Eden Valley to Sunrise Ranch, and Sylvan Dale to Ellis Ranch
• Bobcat Ridge Natural Area
• Flatiron Reservoir
• CR18E from Pole Hill to Pinewood Reservoir
• Horsetooth Reservoir is being utilized in support of wildfire operations and is being evacuated for those purposes, not due to fire. Please AVOID the area until further notice.
• Masonville area and Glade Road from US 34 to Indian Creek Road

Voluntary Evacuations

• Hidden Valley east of Devils Backbone including Ridge Pkwy and Spring Glade Rd to the north.
• CR18E from CR31 to CR 29

The Larimer County Sheriff鈥檚 Office has ordered additional evacuations due to the Alexander Mountain Fire burning near Loveland.

Around noon today residents near Masonville and on Glade Road from US 34 to Indian Creek were told to evacuate immediately. All previous mandatory evacuation orders for the area are still in place.

The Sheriff鈥檚 Office has also told residents of Hidden Valley east of Devil's Backbone including Ridge Parkway and Spring Glade Road to the north to be prepared to evacuate. Incident Command Mike Smith says resources are strapped because of a number of big fires in the West. Fire managers have ordered a Complex Incident Management Team for assistance.

Incident Commander Mike Smith with the Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests provided an update a short time ago. Here are the most important points:

A Complex Incident Management Team has been ordered. They'll take command of the fire and bring in a lot more people and equipment than is currently available. Meanwhile, mandatory evacuation orders remain in effect.

The fire is currently at 1,820 acres with zero containment. It burned steadily throughout the night with low humidity. Breezes are expected to pick up this afternoon which will contribute to the fire's spread. According to the Forest Service, 220 ground crews and several helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft are working the fire.

Officials also provided an update on the fire's perimeter:

• To the west: The fire is holding in the Cedar Creek area but is expected to start spreading soon.
• Hwy 34: The fire has spread about one-third of the way down the canyon but may encounter rocky terrain and run out of fuels soon.
• The fire is one-half mile from Slyvandale Ranch but moving to the north.
• The biggest risks are to the north and west. The fire is slowly moving to the north. Command and crews are still trying to determine the best plan of attack in those areas.