The High Park Fire is burning just west of Fort Collins & Loveland. The fire is 8,000 acres and 0% contained. The fire has also impacted the KUNC transmitter site at Buckhorn Mtn. 91.5fm is off the air currently.
Editor's Note: The High Park Fire was reported early on June 9th, with the first signs of smoke and coverage beginning in mid-afternoon. Winds and high temperatures help spread the fire rapidly, including crown fire. The High Park Fire is currently 8,000 acres and 0% contained. This post archives all of our updates for the first day of the fire. KUNC remains off the air on 91.5fm, new updates have moved to this post.
Update 11:30pm
From the Inciweb page:
At 11:10 P.M. an evacuation alert has been sent to the Poudre Park (along Highway 14) area from mile marker 111 to mile marker 118 (Kings Canyon/Boyd Gulch area). (31 notifications). Additionally Highway 14 from Ted's Place to Stove Prairie is closed, as well as Stove Prairie Road and Rist Canyon.
Update 10:37pm via the Larimer Sheriff on Twitter
#HighParkFire is now at 8,000 acres with 0% containment.
— Larimer Sheriff (@LarimerSheriff) June 10, 2012
Update 9:05pm
Update on the transmitter site at Buckhorn Mtn.: The fire has not reached the towers yet but it is making a good push up the hill. There is one line of fire retardant that has been dropped but no ground forces to fight the fire.
We have also received a picture of the fire as seen from Terry Lake north of Fort Collins, the lead picture on this post has been updated with it. Click on the picture to see a bigger view.
Update 8:50pm
Currently the fire is 5,000 acres and at 0% containment. 10 structures have been damaged.
Brian Larson sent along this audio of Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith talking about the fire’s spread and where they think it will reach…
http://cpa.ds.npr.org/kunc/audio/2012/06/fire4_planning.mp3
Smith also spoke to the difficulty in getting air and ground resources for this fire due to the fact that there is a competing major wildfire in New Mexico.
Update 8:35pm via the Larimer Sheriff on Twitter
FEMA has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the #HighParkFire.
— Larimer Sheriff (@LarimerSheriff) June 10, 2012
Update 8:30pm
The North Park Fire is currently 5,000 acres and 0% contained.
Via Larimer County Emergency page:
New Evacuations have been ordered for the area between CR27E and Stove Prairie Road and south through the entire Rist Canyon area including Davis Ranch Road, Whale Rock Road. South on CR44H 3 miles to just north of Stringtown Gulch Road A pre-evacuation alert for the area on Buckhorn Road between mile markers 25 and 27, including Cougar Dr, Cougar Den Place, Bighorn Drive and Moose Ridge Drive. Residents in this area are asked to be prepared to evacuate in the event that the High Park Fire moves to the east of where it is currently burning. Previous evacuations include Paradise Park Road, Moose Horn Lane, Magic Lane and Spencer Mountain Road. Old Flowers Road from Stove Prairie Road to the 8000-block of Old Flowers Road. Stove Prairie Road north along County Road 27 to Highway 14, east along Highway 14 to approximately mile marker 111, southeast to Rist Canyon Fire Station 1, then back west to to include Wilderness Ridge Way, Rist Creek Road, Spring Valley Road and County Road 41 and all of the roads that run off of it. Cache La Poudre Middle School in Laporte is the evacuation center. Large animals may be taken to the Ranch at I-25 & Crossroads Blvd. Small animals may be taken to Larimer Humane Society.
Update 8:26pm
The fire is now at 5,000 acres and has threatened the transmitter site at Buckhorn Mountain. Both Larimer emergency services and KUNC use this site. We do not have any information on if the site has been damaged by the fire or if power has failed due to the fire. KUNC is currently off the air on 91.5fm.
Update 6:17pm via North Forty News on Twitter
Structures in path of #HighParkFire include Stratton Park and homes off CR41. Larimer County's Buckhorn mtn transmitter site also in path.
— North Forty News (@northfortynews) June 10, 2012
It should also be noted, KUNC's main transmitter site is also on Buckhorn Mtn. We are watching this situation very closely.
Update 6:04pm
The Larimer Sheriff has confirmed that six structures have been lost in the Stove Prairie area and others are threatened by the fire. From the sheriff:
A pre-evacuation alert for the area on Buckhorn Road between mile markers 25 and 27, including Cougar Dr, Cougar Den Place, Bighorn Drive and Moose Ridge Drive. Residents in this area are asked to be prepared to evacuate in the event that the High Park Fire moves to the east of where it is currently burning.
According to North Forty News the fire is moving east and has crossed Stove Prairie Road (CR27).
Stove Prairie School staging area being cleared. #HighParkFire is still heading east and has crossed Stove Prairie Road (CR27).
— North Forty News (@northfortynews) June 10, 2012
Update 5:55pm
7News is reporting that six structures have been destroyed and the fire is at 0% containment. Fire is still reported between 2,000 and 3,000 acres. Additionally, a P2V Neptune air tanker has been brought in to assist with the fire. It is tanker 44, a picture can be found at Wikipedia.
Update 5:40pm via North Forty News on Twitter
Scanner report says 6 structures destroyed on Old Flowers Road as part of #HighParkFire. Defense of others taking place.
— North Forty News (@northfortynews) June 9, 2012
Update 5:03pm
From the High Park Fire incident page:
New evacuations have been ordered for Stove Prairie Road north along County Road 27 to Highway 14, east along Highway 14 to approximately mile marker 111, southeast to Rist Canyon Fire Station 1, then back west to to include Wilderness Ridge Way, Rist Creek Road, Spring Valley Road and County Road 41 and all of the roads that run off of it.
The evacuation center is located at the Cache la Poudre Middle School at 3315 W County Road 54G in Laporte. Small animals can go to the Larimer County Humane Society and large animals can go to The Ranch. The information line is 970-498-5500.
Update 4:43pm
The High Park Fire is still estimated to be between 2,000 to 3,000 acres. Here is a pretty dramatic time lapse shot from a satellite provided by the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC) University of Wisconsin - Madison on Twitter:
High Park Fire near Ft. Collins CO: 250-m res MODIS true color images show growth of smoke plume in 1 hour 40 minutes: http://t.co/Me5ZZS5g
— Scott Bachmeier (@CIMSS_Satellite) June 9, 2012
Update 4:10pm
We've posted a satellite image of the High Park Fire. Photo via Tom Yulsman on Twitter.
Update 3:52pm via the Larimer Sheriff on Twitter
#HighParkFire now estimated at 2,000 to 3,000 acres
— Larimer Sheriff (@LarimerSheriff) June 9, 2012
Update 3:44pm
The fire continues to be fueled by wind and growth potential remains high. Multiple crews are on scene, including air resources on scene and ordered including: 5 Single Engine Air Tankers (SEAT); 2 Type 1 Helitankers; 2 Type 3 Helicopters; 2-4 Heavy Air Tankers; Air Attack; and Lead Plane.
According to North Forty News, the fire is moving North and East.
#HighParkFire moving north and east.
— North Forty News (@northfortynews) June 9, 2012
Update 3:18pm via the Larimer Sheriff on Twitter
227 additional notifications (not homes) sent out to evacuate for the #HighParkFire.
— Larimer Sheriff (@LarimerSheriff) June 9, 2012
Update 2:56pm
In addition to the original evacuation, there are additional areas now. Evacuations include: Paradise Park north to Old Flowers Road; Stove Prairie Road both sides from Paradise Road noth to Highway 14; Rist Canyon Road east from Stove Prairie to Rist Canyon to Fire Station 1; Stratton Park Subdivision and Road; County Road 41 south of 52E; Spring Valley Road south of Rist Canyon Road.
Update 2:44pm
The evacuation area is growing, more details expected soon. The evacuation center is located at the Cache la Poudre Middle School at 3315 W County Road 54G in Laporte. The information line is 970-498-5500.
Update 2:17pm
To recap, the High Park Fire is burning north of the Buckhorn area and West of Stove Prairie Road which is in the vicinity of the main KUNC transmitter site.
High winds are a factor with the fire and have led to evacuations. Evacuations include Paradise Parke Road, Moose Horn Lane, Magic Lane, Spencer Mountain Road and Old Flowers Road from Stove Prairie Road to the 800 block of Old Flowers Road.
Update 2:10pm
Local news channels are streaming live coverage of the fire. We've updated our lead picture with a screencap courtesy of 7News.
Update 1:42pm
Pictures are pouring in via social media. We've collected a few in a Storify below beginning with the earliest pictures and continuing on as the fire developed. We've tried to collect a few of the fire as viewed from other locations as well.
Update 1:31pm
The Larimer Sheriff has closed Stove Prairie Road and Old Flowers Road is being evacuated from Stove Prairie Road to the 8000 block of Old Flowers.
Update 1:21pm
The Larimer Sheriff has stated that roads in area are closing and are for residents only. This includes Rist Canyon Road.
Update 1:08pm
The High Park Fire is still reported at 200 acres. Channel 7 Denver has setup a live stream of the fire from the house of reporter Major King in Fort Collins. You can find the web stream here.
Update 1:03pm Via Steve Segin on Twitter
RM incident mgt team A has been mobilized for High Park Fire. Team will arrive at 1200 tomorrow.
— RMACC (@RMACCinfo) June 9, 2012
Update 12:31pm Via Nathan Heffel on Twitter
exact location of #HighParkFire via @NOAA http://t.co/JHFIDhp5
— Nathan Heffel (@heffeln) June 9, 2012
Update 12:22pm Via the Larimer Sheriff on Twitter
#HighParkFire is now reported at 200 acres.
— Larimer Sheriff (@LarimerSheriff) June 9, 2012
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News release via the Larimer Sheriff:
High Park Fire burning in the Paradise Park area of Larimer County. Buckhorn Road and Cougar Road area. 40-50 acres and growing rapidly. Original report came in at 5:54 a.m. Evacuations have been ordered for Paradise Park Road, Moose Horn Lane, Magic Lane and Spencer Mountain Road. 43 notifications sent (not homes but notifications). Evacuation center is Cache La Poudre Middle School at 3515 West County Road 54G in Laporte, PLEASE NOTE: THE ORIGINAL EVACUATION NOTICE INDICATED STOVE PRAIRIE SCHOOL. THIS HAS CHANGED to Cache La Poudre. Single engine air tanker, Type 1 light helicopter, Type 3 helicopter and Air Attack Command plane on scene or ordered. There are structures in the area. Cause is unknown at this time. Appears to be on both private and Forest Service land. Type 2 management team has been ordered.
