The Estes Park Events Center was set up Monday afternoon by the local chapter of the American Red Cross as an evacuation center for people displaced by the Alexander Mountain Fire.
Cots, tables, and seating areas have been positioned to accommodate people who have come to Estes Park as refugees from the fire. Donations of pizza, pies, snack foods, and beverages are arrayed on a table.
At 8 p.m. a dozen people settled in for a night after a long day, with more people expected to arrive as night fell.
The wildfire began in the Roosevelt National Forest north of U.S. Highway 34 near the Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch, Retreat and Wedding Venue and west of the Store, a popular tourist shop for people heading into Estes Park through the Big Thompson Canyon.
The first reports of smoke were reported to 911 before 11 a.m. and by 7:45 the fire had grown to more than 950 acres with zero containment according to the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO).
More than 2,500 mandatory evacuation orders were issued beginning at 11:53 for Drake to the Dam Store along Highway 34. The evacuation area included Storm Mountain and Palisade Mountain. By 1:41 p.m. evacuation orders were issued for the area of Pole Hill to Pinewood Reservoir.
Huge clouds of billowing grey smoke from the fire could be seen between Eagle Rock Mountain and Mount Olympus through out the day.
To combat the fire, heavy air support was brought in from as far away as Utah and Wyoming, including a Blackhawk air tanker, three Type 1 helicopters, and one Type 3 helicopter. Water and fire retardant were dropped on the area.
As soon as Estes Park Police Chief Ian Stewart learned of the fire, he drove from Estes Park through the Big Thompson Canyon to the LCSO command center which was set up at the Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch.
In an interview with the Estes Valley Voice at the Event Center, Stewart said he wanted to assure residents of Estes Park that local law enforcement and fire protection agencies were working together for the safety of the Estes Valley community.
The Larimer County Sheriff will transfer command to the U.S. Forest Service at 6 a.m. Tuesday and be responsible for all public information about the fire. LCSO will continue to operate the Joint Information Center and provide information about evacuation notices, animal evacuations, and road closures.
Temperatures along the Front Range Tuesday are expected to reach 100 degrees with no precipitation in the forecast, an especially dangerous situation for wildland fires and firefighting.