Summit County Citizens Voice

Larimer County wildfire jumps Poudre Canyon, threatens neighborhoods

The High Park Fire as of Friday morning. During the day Friday, the fire jumped across Poudre Canyon to the north, endangering neighborhoods in the area.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Gusty winds pushed the High Park Fire across Poudre Canyon Friday starting a new spot fire that’s now spreading rapidly on the rugged terrain of Sheep Mountain.

Reports trickling out from the evening media briefing, based on preliminary information, suggest that several more homes have been destroyed in the area.

The northward spread of the fire required the Larimer County Sheriff’s Department to issue a total of 992 emergency evacuations covering areas along Highway 14 from Hewlett Rd. and Wild River Rd.,  to include Falls Creek Dr, all of Poudre Park, Wonderful Place, Ray Shoaf Lane and east to Manners Lane.

During an evening briefing, incident commander Bill Hahnenberg said that, overall, firefighters lost ground today, with containment percentage expected to go down overnight, as planes measure the size of the fire’s footprint with infrared photography and sensors.

As of Friday morning, containment was reported at 60 percent; by tomorrow, officials estimate the number may change to as low as 45 percent.

#HighParkFire – Additional Evacuation Update for the High Park Fire ow.ly/bLQG1—
Larimer Sheriff (@LarimerSheriff) June 22, 2012

#HighParkFire evacuations for North Rim Rd, Hidden Canyon Dr, Willow Mountain Ct, Elkhorn House Rd and Deep Cut Rd.—
Larimer Sheriff (@LarimerSheriff) June 22, 2012

#highparkfire fire jumped at narrows, ran up hill, into Glacier View and Star View. Think it was a long, narrow run, incident commander says—
Dana Coffield (@denpostdana) June 23, 2012

Photographer was in Glacier View as #HighParkFire evacuations were declared. His photo gallery: noconow.co/KSHoxO—
Coloradoan (@coloradoan) June 23, 2012

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Drought, forest fires Tagged: | Colorado wildfires, Emergency evacuation, High Park Fire, High Park fire new evacuations, Larimer County Colorado, Larimer County Sheriff