At least two dozen structures have been damaged or destroyed in the Alexander Mountain fire, the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday afternoon.
The buildings are along Palisade Mountain Drive and Snow Top Drive. The structures are believed to be a combination of homes and outbuildings, the sheriff’s office said.
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Read moreTim Keeton, captain with Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, said they don’t know the exact number or types of structures yet.
“We are going to, with support of firefighters, put damage assessment teams in hopefully tomorrow morning, if fire behavior allows, and get more specifics on homeowners and exact addresses so we can start notifying residents of what the circumstances are,” Keeton said during an afternoon news conference.
He noted that the county had problems contacting owners of burned properties after previous fires, so asked people who live along those streets to call 970-980-2800 to provide their addresses and current contact information.
Evacuations that have been in place for the last few days remain, Keeton said.
“These things are always difficult and undoubtedly very inconvenient for everybody involved, but especially those who have been evacuated,” he said. “Unfortunately we have had a lot of exposure to this the last few years, so it’s not our first time experiencing this for most of us. But thank you for being willing, prepared and acknowledging that we are always going to prioritize life safety over inconvenience.”
The fire, which started Monday west of Loveland and near the mouth of the Big Thompson Canyon, has burned 8,089 acres and is back to 0% contained because the fire has grown.
Southwest Incident Management Team Operations Section Chief Jayson Coil said crews are making good progress slowing the fire’s spread and protecting structures, particularly near Masonville on the eastern edge. He also said crews are closely monitoring the fire through Big Thompson Canyon where an above-ground optical fiber line providing 911 service to Estes Park runs along the ground. Along the northern edge, the fire is nearing the Cameron Peak burn scar.
“Getting the notification that your home or property has been damaged is never easy. We will grieve alongside our neighbors through this difficult process, and our team will be here for you in the difficult days and months ahead,” Larimer County Sheriff John Feyen said in a news release. “The hundreds of people assigned to this fire will continue working around the clock to keep our community safe.”