LARIMER COUNTY, Colo.
Thirteen families have evacuated and 53 more families remain on standby to evacuate in Larimer County because of the Stuart Hole Fire.
The fire started about 12:30 p.m. on Monday. It has burned about 200 acres near County Road 82E and Boxer Ranch Road in the Cherokee Park area, about an hour northwest of Fort Collins, said John Schultz of the Larimer County Sheriff's Office.
One structure has been damaged. It was not known if it is a residence, unoccupied outbuilding or ranch structure.
Evacuations
Evacuations were ordered in the Boxer Ranch subdivision along Boxer Ranch Road, and residents were evacuated to the Livermore Community Hall at 1985 West CR74E, approximately 1.5 miles west of the Forks at 3:38 p.m. An additional 53 homes in the area north and south of CR82E from CR80C and CR67J remain on alert and should be prepared to evacuate, if necessary.
Large animals from the evacuation area can be taken to the Ranch Way Feed West Barn at "The Ranch" (Budweiser Events Center).
Fighting The Fire
A Type 3 fire management team has been requested and will use Livermore Elementary School as an incident command center.
One single-engine air tanker and one type 3 helicopter were on scene Monday and an air attack control plane and another helicopter have been ordered, Schultz said. Firefighters from Larimer County Emergency Services, the Livermore Fire Department and the U.S. Forest Service are responding. Additional fire engines were ordered from Poudre Fire, Loveland, Wellington and Glacier View.
About 65 firefighters were on the fire Monday evening. By Tuesday, an additional four 20-person crews are expected on the fire line.
The cause and origin of the fire are unknown, Schulz said.
Other Fires In Colorado
Meanwhile, firefighters in western Colorado are mopping up a wildfire that burned nearly 9 square miles of rugged terrain north of Paradox near the Utah border.
Near Pagosa Springs, a fire that has scorched nearly 8 square miles is about 30 percent contained. Crews say much of the risk associated with that blaze has been significantly reduced.
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