Mandatory Evacuations Ordered As 'Elk Fire' Burns In Glacier View In Larimer County
LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4)- The Larimer County Sheriff's Office has ordered mandatory evacuations in the area of Deep Cut Road and Elkhorn House Road in Glacier View for the so-called Elk Fire. Those in the area are asked to evacuate immediately and not delay leaving to gather belongings.
There are an undetermined amount of mandatory evacuations in the Glacier View comunity.
Copter4 flew over the wildfire on Wednesday afternoon, which was putting out a lot of smoke.
Larimer County received a request for assistance from The Nature Conservancy which was doing controlled burns in the vicinity.
A total of 500 acres were planned in the controlled burn. The fire had burned 175 acres as of Wednesday evening. Firefighters have 10% containment on the fire. Fifty homes are threatened.
The fire was considered a threat when a prescribed burn on private property, Ben Delatour Scout Ranch, became uncontrolled.
"The winds took it from them," said Larimer County Sheriff's Office spokesman Jared Kramer.
A large air tanker and a SEAT have been ordered to the fire burning southeast of Red Feather Lakes.
An evacuation center is being set up at the Livermore Community Church on County Road 74E.
#ElkFire Evacuation Update - There was an error in our earlier information. The mandatory evacuation INCLUDES ALL GATES FROM 7 THROUGH 13. The overnight shelter is at the Livermore Community Church, NOT the Livermore Community Center.
— Larimer Sheriff (@LarimerSheriff) October 17, 2019
There is another prescribed burn underway near Red Feather Lakes. That fire is contained but may be sending up smoke.
The US Forest Service issued this statement in regards to that prescribed burn: We wanted to provide an update on the Red Feather Prescribed Burn as we know there is much concern about fire around Red Feather Lakes tonight. Our firefighters completed 650 acres today and remain on scene overnight. The burn remains within its perimeter, but flames and smoke may still be visible throughout the night and the next few days. Firefighters will remain on the Red Feather Burn in the coming days to monitor fire activity; however, no additional ignitions are planned at this time.
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