Colorado’s Alexander Mountain, Stone Canyon and Quarry fires

Catch up: Read Wednesday’s live updates

Fire crews worked through the night to try to get containment on three of the wildfires burning along the Front Range.

Wednesday night, officials working the Stone Canyon fire north of Lyons said they were able to get 20% containment on the fire, which started Tuesday, and some residents in Lyons were allowed to return to their homes.

While ground crews worked the fire lines overnight, air support is expected to resume Thursday morning as officials continue to share resources.

The Alexander Mountain fire is the largest wildfire in the state and late Wednesday night officials announced they had 1% containment. That is on the east side as they continue to protect the Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch. 

On Wednesday, Gov. Jared Polis said he has activated the Colorado National Guard to help with logistics in fighting the wildfires. Soldiers won’t be fighting the fires but will help with backup support, including traffic control and other needs. Polis also said FEMA will help pay for the costs to fight the fires, and will cover 75% of the costs.

The National Weather Service in Denver said there will be a slight chance of afternoon storms mainly over Park County and the Palmer Divide, but “elevated fire conditions will continue over higher terrain.” Those conditions include above normal temperatures, forecast in the high 90s, and low humidity.

Warm and stagnant weather combined with smoke from local and out-of-state fires will bring unhealthy air quality that could be harmful for people with respiratory illnesses, children and older adults, state health officials warned in an advisory Thursday morning. 

The warning is for Douglas County north to Larimer and Weld counties, including the Denver-Boulder area, Greeley and Fort Collins and remains in effect until 4 p.m. 

Alexander Mountain fire

Current size: 7,648 acres
Location: Big Thompson Canyon west of Loveland
Containment: 1%
Cause: Unknown
Impact: 3,200 people evacuated; no injuries or burned homes

New team takes command of operations

As of 6 a.m., the Southwest Area Incident Management Team 1 has assumed command of the fire. The team, based out of Albuquerque, was last in Colorado in July 2002 to help with the Big Elk fire, which burned 4,800 acres south of Estes Park. (Three pilots were killed fighting that fire.) 

Currently there are 450 personnel fighting the Alexander Mountain fire, which started Monday. The cause of the fire is unknown and under investigation.

The incident team has set up a new Facebook page for updates on the fire. 

— 9:05 a.m. Thursday

Thursday morning’s update

Firefighters have made minor headway and have been able to get its first bit of containment and have secured the perimeter next to the Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch, which is on the east side of the blaze near where it started. Crews continue to keep the flames from jumping over Highway 34, which remains closed.

Hotshot firefighting crews and other resources are expected to arrive Thursday to fight the fire, the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office said. 

Smoke was a big issue for aerial crews Wednesday and “there were times when aviation assets could not be utilized,” officials said late Wednesday night. 

— 5:40 a.m. Thursday

Stone Canyon fire

Current size: 1,548 acres
Location: Stone Mountain outside Lyons in Larimer County
Containment: 20%
Cause: Unknown
Impact: One fatality; five structures have been destroyed

Thursday morning’s update

Officials said Wednesday night they had 20% containment on the fire, which has slowed but is moving to the northeast. Ground crews were working the fire lines overnight, and air support is expected to resume Thursday morning.

— 5:45 a.m. Thursday

Quarry fire

Current size: 341 acres
Location: Deer Creek Canyon in Jefferson County
Containment: 0%
Cause: Unknown
Impact: 600 homes evacuated; no injuries or burned homes

Firefighter morale remains high

“The volunteers, they’re pros, this is what they do and they know what they are signing up for,” Mark Techmeyer, a spokesperson for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday. “Their morale is: Let’s go to war, let’s fix this thing, let’s put this fire out, let’s take care of these people’s homes.” 

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

“Everyone should be worried right now, there’s a huge fire that is difficult to fight. … This is not easy folks, this is a tough fire,” Techmeyer said, adding that the fire is about a quarter-mile from West Sampson Road. Techmeyer said he expects firefighting efforts to extend into the weekend.

“We’re going to be on this for a while.” 

County officials discouraged donations of food and other items because there is no space to put them. More information on ways to support affected residents can be found online.

— 8:35 a.m. Thursday

No growth overnight

Low winds and higher humidity helped firefighters and the fire did not grow overnight, Mark Techmeyer, a spokesman for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, said Thursday morning. 

“We had a great night last night. The fire behaved, it laid down and did not grow overnight,” he said.

“This fire cannot jump over to the north side of Deer Creek Canyon Road. We have a whole other situation on our hands if that happens,” he said. “If we lose control of this fire and it jumps over to the north side, that would be our nightmare.” 

— 8:10 a.m. Thursday

Hotshots arrive to help; 5 firefighters injured but OK

The San Juan Hotshots, a group of 20 firefighters from Colorado, arrived Wednesday night and will help to attack the fire from the ground, Mark Techmeyer said. 

“They are boots on the ground in tough terrain and take care of tough situations,” he said, adding, “Let’s be real, this fire will not be won in the air. We have to have the Hotshots.”

As temperatures crept near 100 degrees, five firefighters assigned to the fire were injured, Techmeyer said. Four suffered from heat exhaustion and one had a seizure. None were hospitalized and all are in good condition Thursday, he said.

— 8 a.m. Thursday

Thursday morning’s update

Infrared imaging estimated the fire to be at 341 acres, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

The fire is burning in a highly dense population area, and more pre-evacuation warnings were issued Wednesday night, putting the  Homestead South and Oehlmann Park neighborhoods on notice.

More than a dozen fire agencies responded to the fire Wednesday, including 17 firefighters with five engines from West Metro fire department who worked along the road digging fire lines and cutting down brush and other fuels to help strengthen natural barriers to stop the fire.

— 5:50 a.m. Thursday

Type of Story: News

Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.