BREAKING/UPDATED: A Wildland fire has been reported in Lyons near Eagle Ridge Road and Louis Lane. The fire is being called the Stone Canyon Fire. As we learn more we will update our reporting about road closures or evacuation notices. Also check our Emergency Information resource page to connect with emergency services or information in the Estes Valley.
When disasters hit this area, it never fails. Estes Park businesses and residents are among the first who step up ready, willing, and offering help with comfort food, refreshing beverages and even entertainment to allay worries, even for just a little while.
That was true when the Alexander Mountain Fire west of Sylvan Dale Ranch created mandatory evacuation orders on Monday for those living on Storm Mountain and Palisade Mountain and several roads were closed from CR 18 from Pole Hill to Pinewood Reservoir and from Drake to the Dam Store along U.S. Highway 34. Estes Park folks went into action.
Supplying free meals to the evacuated who came to Estes Park became a mission for You Need Pie. Twisted Griffen Irish Pub offered a bite to eat and a drink on the house saying, “we know these times can be stressful and we are here for you.” Recognizing the first responders with food and drink is Lonigan’s way of expressing deep gratitude for those “who have worked so hard to keep us safe.”
Jenna MacGregor, owner of the Historic Park Theatre and Reel Mountain Theater also put out the red carpet by providing a free movie, popcorn, and drink for anyone evacuated due to the fire. “We wish you all to be safe and anything we can do to help lessen your worries and troubles, let us help,” she said.
Another couple offered sustenance and shelter to a family from Storm Mountain who escaped in their RV with their children and pets, “but not much else.” Others were coming forward with clothing for the children and games to keep them busy.
Residents offering assistance isn’t just a local’s thing to do. Even visitors want to provide whatever assistance they can.
One family coming from Georgia, who said they would be arriving from their farm in the next day would provide any assistance, including scooping residue from animals. They said they just wanted to help.
Those offers were posted on various Facebook sites dedicated to Estes Park residents.
As of Tuesday morning, a Type 3 incident management team from the USDA Forest Service is now in charge of organizing efforts to fight the fire that grew to 1,820 acres overnight and showed 0% containment.
The U.S. Postal Service office in Drake is temporarily closed. Customers served by that office can pick up their mail in Estes Park by showing their photo ID. The post office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The Masonville Post Office also is closed. Those customers can pick up their mail at the main post office in Loveland.
With temperatures hitting the high 90s in the foothills, wind anticipated to be gusting between 25 to 30 miles per hour and the relative humidity at only 9 to 13 percent until 8 p.m. today a Red Flag warning has been issued for the entire northern Front Range foothill area.
Smoking in the open is not allowed. Addition fire restrictions in Estes Park, on National Forest Service land, and in Rocky Mountain National Park are currently in effect, or will be by Wednesday morning.
The Estes Valley Fire Protection District has issued a Stage 1 open burning restriction to begin at 8 a.m. Wednesday in Estes Park. That means recreational wood burning, barbecues and smokers, and recreational gas burning items are only allowed if the fire is at least 15 feet from a structure, is constantly attended until completely out, and that the attendant has water and a tool to extinguish the fire available if needed.
On National Forest Service land, use of charcoal or briquette fires can only occur in a permanent metal or concrete fire pit that the U.S. Forest Service has installed and maintained at its developed recreation sites. Devices solely fueled by liquid or gas that can be turned on and off is allowed in an area barren or cleared of all flammable materials within three feet of the device may be used. Also allowed is a fully enclosed metal stove with a chimney at least five feet long with a mesh screen spark arrestor having a screen opening of a ¼ inch, as long as it used in an area that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials within 10 feet of the device.
Rocky Mountain National Park always has Stage 1 fire restrictions in place where campfires are prohibited in the park, except within designated campfire rings in picnic areas and front-country campgrounds. In the national park, fires, including grills and charcoal briquettes, are only allowed in designated areas and sites where a metal fire ring or grate is provided. These areas include developed campgrounds, some picnic areas, and some designated wilderness campsites. Campfires and grills are not allowed anywhere else in the park. Petroleum-fueled stoves are allowed in developed campgrounds and picnic areas. A permit is required to use a petroleum-fueled stove in designated wilderness sites.
Multiple fire departments and partner agencies have joined the effort to contain the fire, including Berthoud Fire Department, Big Elk Volunteer Fire Department, Big Thompson Canyon Fire Department, Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, Boulder County Fire Rescue, Centurylink, Colorado Department of Transportation, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Colorado State Patrol, Dacono Fire/Mountain View Fire Rescue Station, Division of Fire Prevention and Control Douglas County, Helitack, Drake Fire, Estes Valley Fire Department Frederick Fire Department, Gilcrest Fire Department, Glen Haven Fire. Greeley Fire Department. Hygiene Fire Protection District. Larimer County All-Hazards/Crisis Response Team. Larimer County Posse. Larimer Emergency Telephone Authority. Longmont Fire Department. Loveland Fire Rescue Authority. Loveland Police Department. Northern Colorado Humane Society. Platte Valley Fire Department. Poudre Valley REA. Thompson Valley Emergency Services, United States Forest Service, and Xcel.
Multiple air resources were ordered as the Larimer County Sherrif’s Office responded to the fire. Water and fire retardant were dropped continuously until about 8 p.m. Monday. Air and additional ground resources resumed operations Monday.
For contact information about emergency services in the Estes Valley, click here to see the Estes Valley Voice Emergency Informaiton Page.