Local relief efforts are underway to help people affected by the Alexander Mountain Fire.
The Estes Valley Board of Realtors is partnering with the Bank of Estes Park and Crossroads Ministry to raise relief and recovery funds.
The EVBOR has set a goal of raising $5K and the Bank of Estes Park has offered to match the amount raised up to $5K.
Scott Applegate, President and CEO of the Bank of Estes, has challenged community member and area businesses to step into the “matching club.”
The funds raised by this effort will be held, managed, and disbursed by Crossroads.
Checks can be made payable to Crossroads with “Estes Valley Fire Relief Fund” on the memo line and dropped off at: Crossroads, 1753 Wildfire Rd. in Estes, or at either of the Bank of Estes Park locations, 255 Park Ln. or 501 St Vrain Ln. Donations can also be made online. Click here.
The Community Foundation of Northern Colorado is coordinating a county wide NoCo Disaster Relief Fund. The Estes Nonprofit Network is working with the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado to raise promote contributions to the fund.
Christina Kraft, Bank of Colorado Estes Park Market President, said the bank will providing a $10,000 matching donation to NoCo’s relief fund which will provide both immediate and long-term relief and recovery needs for those affected by the Alexander Mountain Fire.
“We’ll collect monetary donations and goods in Estes and our northern front range branches will help with collection efforts as well,” said Kraft.
Donations to the NoCo Disaster Recovery Fund can be made at the Bank of Colorado, 533 Big Thompson Avenue or online. Click here.
The Alexander Mountain Fire began on July 29 west of Loveland. On Sunday evening the Southwest Area Team 1 reported that good progress had occurred in firefighting. The fire has involved 9,668 acres but containment jumped from 32% to 54%.
At this time 26 homes and 21 outbuildings have been destroyed and four homes had been damaged. According to Sheriff John Feyen of the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, all property owners have been contacted.
Process to restore utilities and to credential home owners underway
Residents who live between the Dam Store and Idelwild Lane will begin to have access to their homes on Monday.
The road between Estes Park and Loveland is not open to the public. From Estes Park, the road is blocked at Waltonia Canyon. Some residents who live in the Big Thompson Canyon area will be allowed to enter beginning Monday afternoon. Access will depend on utility crews restoring power in the area so people have the ability to contact emergency services, said Feyen.
Residents must also have gone through the credentialing process to be allowed to enter.
The credentialling process for homeowners and renters in the Cedar Park and Storm Mountain area will begin Monday at 8 a.m. at the evacuation centers in both Estes Park at the Estes Park Events Center,1125 Rooftop Way and in Loveland at 1380 North Denver Ave. Feyen said this will take up to two days to vet credentials to prove that people belong in the area.
“We’ve had bad actors, not in this incident, but in past instances, try to get into and take advantage of people who are vulnerable. So, if you can’t prove you belong there, you’re not getting in,” said Feyen
Residents of Storm Mountain could expect to have access to their homes on Wednesday, said Feyen.
Feyen said it may be until sometime next week that U.S. Highway 34 is fully open between Estes Park and Loveland.
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