From Larimer County Sheriff November 19 at 12:06 p.m.
This is the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office with evacuation updates. Fire officials have lifted the voluntary evacuations for the areas south of Meadowdale Lane to the Boulder County line, the area of Little Valley Drive, and the area west of Kruger Rock to Fish Creek Road. Residents and business occupants in those areas are no longer under any restrictions. For updated maps of the evacuation areas, please visit nocoalert.org. Thank you for your cooperation during the fire incident.

at 12:10 p.m.
This is the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office with evacuation updates. Fire officials have downgraded evacuations from mandatory to voluntary for residents and business occupants in the area of Meadowdale Lane north to Hermit Park and west to Kruger Rock. Residents and business occupants in that area may return home. We ask that you remain prepared for mandatory evacuations if the fire behavior changes. Please use caution in the area, as fire crews are still present. For updated maps of the evacuation areas, please visit nocoalert.org. Please do not call 9-1-1 unless you are in danger. Thank you for your cooperation during this fire incident.

From Kyle Patterson, RMNP, on November 19, 2021:

Kruger Rock Fire Afternoon Update:

The Kruger Rock Fire remains at 146 acres. Containment is now 60%. Fire activity today was minimal. Light smoke is visible across the fire this afternoon. Some small pockets of moderate smoke are visible in a few places as heavy fuels consume.

 

As expected, it was very dry and windy across the fire weather under the Red Flag Warning. However, fire behavior was only minimally affected. The Red Flag Warning will continue through tonight and will expire at 5 a.m. tomorrow.

 

Firefighters constructed and secured handline today. No aircraft were used in suppression operations today. There will be aircraft available tomorrow to support firefighters on the ground if weather conditions allow. There will be firefighters patrolling the fire area and monitoring the fire throughout the night.

 

Unified command continues under US Forest Service and Larimer County. Under unified command, the Forest Service is providing general fire updates, which can now be found on Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7895/ and the County is providing information on evacuations and primary road closures: https://www.larimer.org/kruger-rock-fire

 

Follow updates on Twitter at @usfsclrd and @LarimerSheriff.

Joint Information Center: 970-980-2500

U.S. Forest Service Closure Information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/arp/alerts-notices/?aid=70327

 

From Kyle Patterson, RMNP, on November 18, 2021:
Kruger Rock Fire Morning Update:

The Kruger Rock Fire remains at 146 acres. Containment is 40%. Fire activity last night was minimal. Light smoke is visible across the fire this morning.

 

Temperatures in Estes Park this morning registered around  8 degrees, but that was expected to change quickly this morning as red flag conditions arrive around 10 a.m. Relative humidity is expected to dip this afternoon into the single digit range. Winds will develop late morning and increase throughout the afternoon and into the evening. Valley winds will likely gust to 25 to 35 mph. Ridgetop winds should reach peak gusts of around 35 mph. The red flag warning will continue until tomorrow at 5 a.m.

 

There are 210 total personnel working on the fire today. Firefighters will continue constructing handline along the north and east sides of the fire today. They’ll also continue to secure existing fire lines wherever possible. Aircraft are available today to support firefighters on the ground if weather conditions allow.

 

Unified command continues under US Forest Service and Larimer County. Under unified command, the Forest Service is providing general fire updates and the County is providing information on evacuations and primary road closures: https://www.larimer.org/kruger-rock-fire

 

Follow updates on Twitter at @usfsclrd and @LarimerSheriff.

Joint Information Center: 970-980-2500

U.S. Forest Service Closure Information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/arp/alerts-notices/?aid=70327

What are you doing to prepare for wildfires?
After the historic wildfires of 2020, we have prepared this post to help equip our community with resources to be prepared for the upcoming wildfire season, both for visitors to our community as well as local residents and business owners.On May 21, 2021 we partnered with the Estes Valley Board of Realtors to host a forum on wildfire preparedness. The forum featured the National Parks Service, State Farm Insurance, the EV Fire District, Summit Forestry and members of the community. You can view the video recording of the event in our online archives. 

Resources from the Estes Valley Fire Protection District:

The Estes Valley Fire Protection District offers several services for residents:

• Fire Safety Resources - includes checklists for self inspections of your business. The EVFPD has also inspected over 750 businesses in the Estes Valley over the course of the last four years
• Education - provides resources on various seasonal fire prevention topics
• Fire Restrictions & Bans - includes information on both current and standing fire restrictions
• Living in the Wildland Urban Interface (W.U.I.) - tips for protect your mountain home from the threat of wildfire
• Wildfire Home Assessments - resources for scheduling a home assessment and conducting a self-assessment
• Beck Architects Trail Gazette article on Learning from Wildfires

Resources from Rocky Mountain National Park:

While Estes Park was not directly impacted by the wildfires in 2020, some of our surrounding communities were as well as Rocky Mountain National Park. In 2020, the East Troublesome and Cameron Peak Fires impacted approximately 30,000 acres or 9% of Rocky Mountain National Park. Park closures remain in effect in parts of the park. The park service provides information about the closures on their website. 

Rocky Mountain National Park always has Stage 1 fire restrictions in place, where campfires are prohibited in the park, except within designated campfire rings in picnic areas and front-country campgrounds. The use of disposable or portable charcoal grills, wood fuel camp stoves and gas grills is allowed. Fireworks are always prohibited within the park. Park visitors are urged to use caution and vigilance regarding the use of fire in authorized locations. 

These rules are always in effect in Rocky Mountain National Park:

• Fires, including grills and charcoal briquettes, are only allowed in designated areas and sites where a metal fire ring or grate is provided. These areas include developed campgrounds, some picnic areas, and some designated wilderness campsites. Campfires and grills are not allowed anywhere else in the park.
• Petroleum-fueled stoves are allowed in developed campgrounds and picnic areas. A permit is required to use a petroleum-fueled stove in designated wilderness sites.
• The park may enforce stricter fire regulations, including fire bans.

Rocky Mountain National Park offers the following fire safety tips:

• To report a fire in the park, call 9-1-1.
• Never leave a fire unattended. Before leaving or going to sleep, completely extinguish your fire by dousing it with water and stirring the ashes until there is no more heat, smoke, or embers.
• Be careful with equipment such as stoves, lanterns, heaters, and grills. Avoid spilling flammable substances, store fuel away from appliances, and allow equipment to cool.
• ​Discard cigarettes and matches properly. Completely extinguish and dispose of smoking materials in a cigarette receptacle or carry them out of the park with you.

In the event of a wildfire, these resources will be helpful

While smoke from multiple fires is palpable in Estes and nearby communities are being evacuated, businesses and the national park are open. Hopefully this Q&A helps you make plans about your tripe:

How's the air quality in Estes Park?

• Smoke Outlook - This site provides the AQI - air quality index - today and for the next few days. This will help you determine if this is a good time for your trip to Estes Park based on your outdoor activity.
• Pictures and maps updated in real time with Estes Park News on Facebook

Road conditions

• COTRIP is the best place to check for current road openings and closures, which are apt to change based on the wind.

Where can I get updates and alerts on the status of the Cameron Peak fire?

• Cameron Peak Facebook Page - Provides official updates on the Cameron Peak Fire, including detailed videos, maps, and explanations of current fire information and tactics used to combat the fire
• StoryMap -  This story map is an interactive environment for maps and other features that allow you to see updates, pictures, videos and maps all in one place.
• Nocoalerts.org - Public safety emergency alerts & evacuation zones map
• Larimer.org - Information from Larimer County on the Cameron Peak Fire
• Quiero informacion en Espanol: https://www.estesvalleyfire.org/cameron-peak-fire-resources 

Where can I get details on the Park and other fires in Colorado?

• InciWeb the Incident Information System - Provides information on fire locations. You may search Colorado or specific fires.
• Rocky Mountain National Park Alerts, restrictions and closures https://www.nps.gov/romo/learn/fire-information-and-regulations.htm 
• East Troublesome Fire Map

Is it safe to build a campfire?

• We are on a fire ban. That means you cannot set any fires for cooking or otherwise.
• Open Flame Cooking Devices - Notice of Fire Code Requirements from the Estes Valley Fire Protection District

Contact information:

• Joint Information Center open from 8 a.m.-8 p.m: 970-980-2500 and www.larimer.org/cameron-peak-fire  
• Fire Information Office: 970-541-1008, open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Cameron Peak Email: 2020.cameronpeak@firenet.gov
• Text the word LCEVAC to 888777 to receive text message alerts about evacuations, road closures, credentialing, and other important updates.

If you want to help, please DO NOT approach the fire teams with food or gifts. Please DO show your gratitude by donating to the Red Cross. The best way to show appreciation to firefighters is to make sure you have done all you can to prepare your own property. As Chief Wolf has said, "We live in a mountain community and we should always be prepared for evacuation." You can find resources to guide you at https://www.estesvalleyfire.org/cameron-peak-fire-resources.

If you have more resources to help us stay on alert to protect the Estes Valley, please share with us at info!esteschamber.org.