The High Park Fire was reported at about 5:54am on Saturday, June 9th. The Larimer County Sheriff's office has confirmed that 181 homes have been destroyed since the fire first started.
06/17/2012 Update 10:02pm
The High Park Fire is now 56,480 acres. The fire only grew 1500 acres today. Containment is still listed at 45%.
06/17/20212 Update 6:37pm
The Larimer Sheriff has issued a new pre-evacuation notice in addition to the ordered evacuations for Soldier Canyon and Mill Canyon. From the release:
Evacuation orders have been issued for the Soldier Canyon and Mill Canyon areas which includes Lodgepole Dr and County Rd 23 west and south including Red Cedar Dr, and east to County Rd 23. There were 331 notifications sent in this area. Pre-Evacuation orders have been issued for the Shoreline Road area south of Lory State Park, with the southern border being County Rd 38E, eastern border to be Horsetooth Reservoir and west to Red Stone Canyon. Residents in these areas have been put on a 2 hour-notice. 473 notifications sent.
06/17/2012 Update 6:06pm via Nathan Heffel on Twitter
New evacuation orders issued for soldier canyon, mill canyon areas. #HighParkFire http://t.co/bxVxMN9z
— Nathan Heffel (@heffeln) June 18, 2012
06/17/12 Update 1:50 pm
Because of the potential for strong gusty winds – the Larimer County Sherriff’s office has issued a new mandatory evacuation order for the Hewlett Gulch Subdivision. 96 notices have been sent out. All residents in the following areas are to evacuate immediately.
- Hewlett Gulch Road
- Swan
- Snow Cliff Road
- Deer Meadow Way
- Star View Drive
- Gobbler's Knob Court
- Happy Jack Road
- Sara Lane
- Mount Mahogany
- Rainbows End
- Weatherbird Way
- Red Tail Trail
- Gordon Creek Lane
- Wild Mountain Lane
06/17/12 Update 9:00 am
The High Park fire has now consumed 55,050 acres. Thanks to favorable weather conditions on Saturday, the fire is now 45% contained. But any cooperation that Mother Nature may have given yesterday could be derailed today. A Red Flag Warning has been issued for Sunday into Monday. Temperatures will climb into the 90s today and wind gusts up to 50 mph are expected on ridge tops and in the Poudre Canyon. Fire crews have been securing line on the northern perimeter of the fire in advance of the winds. The High Park fire is now the most destructive in Colorado history destroying 181 homes. To date it has cost $10.8 million to fight the fire.
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The following updates on the High Park Fire are from Saturday, June 16th.
Update 5:32pm via the Larimer County Sheriff on Twitter
#HighParkFire Fire officials have given the all-clear for residents living in Soldier Canyon Estates, Mill Canyon Estates and other...
— Larimer Sheriff (@LarimerSheriff) June 16, 2012
Update 5:07pm
The Larimer Sheriff has confirmed that 181 homes have been destroyed and that the owners have been notified. Here is the breakdown:
- Soldier Canyon - 1
- Missile Silo Road - 1
- Cloudy Pass - 1
- Picnic Rock - 1
- Pine Acres - 5
- Stratton Park - 21
- Poudre Canyon - 17
- Spring Valley - 3
- Old Flowers 1
- Whale Rock - 40
- Paradise Park - 12
- Tip Top -
- Rist Creek - 7
- Davis Ranch - 51
- Laurence Creek/Redstone - 0
- Buckhorn (CR44H) - Unknown
- Stove Prairie Road - 10
- Rist Canyon - 8
At 6pm Saturday, Soldier Canyon and Mill Canyon residents will be allowed to return. No credentials are necessary, but identification will be required.
There is a line around the spot fire at Stevens Gulch. It is estimated at 200 acres and is not being treated as contained, hot shot crews continue to work the fire.
No firing operations were carried out on the west edge of the fire due to tomorrow's forecast. This area remains difficult due to the terrain and the presence of fuels. Officials have said they remain 'patient and persistent in working the west side of the fire.'
Update 3:50pm via Kirk Siegler on Twitter
Breaking: @LarimerSheriff confirms 181 homes confirmed destroyed by #HighParkFire
— Kirk Siegler (@KirkSiegler) June 16, 2012
Update 2:53pm via 850 KOA on Twitter
#highparkfire. Incredible photo of lightning strike of tree that ignited blaze pic.twitter.com/wVSB9h4V
— KOA NewsRadio 850 AM & 94.1 FM (@KOAColorado) June 16, 2012
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Northern Colorado has now lived with the High Park Fire for one week. While the fire's rapid spread and the smoke it generated have been ever present, both in the news and in the view of the foothills to the west of Fort Collins, there has been progress made on the fire.
Glacier View can breath a bit easier as the spot fire near the neighborhood as been anchored and some fire line has been built around it. Plans are in place to expand structure protection north of the Poudre.
Information on the status of homes for residents of Davis Ranch, Laurence Creek/Redstone, Buckhorn (CR44H), Stove Prairie Road and Rist Canyon will be available at the citizen's briefing at 3pm Saturday at the Ranch. If you are a resident who is unable to attend the meeting you can get information on your property after 3pm by calling the information line: 970-619-4086. This line is staffed from 8am to 5pm.
An updated detailed map [.pdf] of the High Park Fire was released last night.
Here's the High Park by the numbers as of today:
- 54,232 acres (At the end of Saturday, June 9th the fire was an estimated 8,000 acres)
- Containment stands at 20%
- 112 confirmed structures lost
- Total cost so far: $9.1 million
- Land split: 69% state & private and 31% U.S. Forest Service
Fire resources:
- 5 Heavy Air Tankers
- 8 Type 1 Helicopters
- 3 Type 2 Helicopters
- 5 Type 3 Helicopters
- 2 Blackhawk Helicopters for support
- 103 Engines
- 14 Type 1 Hand Crews
- 18 Type 2 Hand Crews
- 16 Water Tenders
- Total of 1,533 personnel
- 3 Feller Bunchers (crews working on timber & trees to remove it as a fuel source)
Editor's Note: The High Park Fire started on Saturday, June 9th. Winds and high temperatures helped the fire rapidly spread. There have been many developments with what has become one of the largest wildfires in Colorado history. You can review our timeline of the fire in the High Park Fire archive.
