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Update 12:50 p.m.: U.S. Forest Service and Larimer County have lifted evacuation notices for residents and businesses east of Highway 36, including Pole Hill Road and Panorama Peak. The evacuation area south of Meadowdale Lane west of Highway 36 south to the Boulder County line has been downgraded from mandatory to voluntary, according to the Larimer County Sheriff's Office.
As of 12 p.m. the fire was estimated at 140 acres and 15% containment, according to the USFS.
"With public and firefighter safety a priority, we plan to take advantage of cooler temps and lighter winds today. Fire resources continue to arrive from throughout the county, state and region," USFS said via Twitter.
Original Article:
The Kruger Rock Fire is still burning east of Estes Park. An update from Larimer County at 10:30 p.m. last night revealed the fire had reached an estimated 133 acres with 15% containment.
Fire crews resumed operation this morning, with the U.S. Forest Service sharing unified command with Larimer County. Portions of Roosevelt National Forest adjacent to Estes Park and the fire evacuation territory have been closed to the public for safety reasons.
Yesterday evening reports of a single engine air tanker crashing came into Larimer County. Search and Rescue resources found the site of the plane crash around 9:49 p.m. The pilot was the only person in the plane, according to the report, and did not survive the crash. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board will lead an investigation into the tragic loss.
Initial investigations have identified the likely cause of the Kruger Rock fire, which began burning just before 7 a.m. Tuesday morning, to be high winds in the area. The wind caused a tree to blow into a nearby powerline, the report revealed, causing it to arc and the sparks started the fire.
The small wildfire at Little Valley Road and Fish Creek Road in Estes Park burned on steep terrain and spread quickly by high winds and dry conditions. Larimer County Sheriff’s Office and other emergency responders issued multiple mandatory and voluntary evacuations, with notifications being sent to 1,644 contacts. As of this time, there are no structure damages reported due to the Kruger Rock Fire.
In the unified command, the U.S. Forest Service continues to lead fire containment while Larimer County manages evacuation response. The USFS and LSCO are supported by more than a dozen nearby agencies, including responders from Poudre Valley, Allenspark, Loveland, Boulder County and the state of Colorado.
The LCSO Joint Information Center resumed operations at 8 a.m. this morning, providing information to the community at 970-980-2500. Updates to the Kruger Rock Fire are being posted through Larimer County’s website and NoCo Alert, along with social media from the USFS and LSCO.
This is an ongoing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
