Alexander Mountain Fire West of Loveland Surpasses 800 Acres

With the heat and dry weather we have seen recently in Northern Colorado, we all knew it wouldn't be "if" but "when" a wildfire would happen in the mountains of Larimer County.

At 10:38 a.m. on Monday, July 29, the Larimer County Sheriff's Office received the call of a wildfire burning west of Sylvan Dale Ranch west of Loveland. As of 7:45 p.m. Monday, the fire had grown to 950 acres, and the smoke plume could be seen in Windsor, Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, and much of the Front Range in Northern Colorado.

Air resources attacked the fire until about 8 p.m. and will resume at 6 a.m. Tuesday.

Mandatory Evacuations in Larimer County Due to Wildfire

Larimer Emergency Telephone Authority has issued mandatory evacuations for the wildfire near Storm Mountain. Mandatory evacuations include the Drake Dam Store along Highway 34, Storm Mountain, and Palisade Mountian. Residents in the area are being told to evacuate immediately.

U.S. 34 is closed from Larimer County roads 29 to 43.

Footage from Denver 7 shows how big the wildfire grew early Monday.

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For evacuation alerts, text LCEVAC to 888777. Nocoalert.org has a map of the evacuation area. This story is developing and will be updated with more information as it becomes available.

Update at 12:12 p.m.

Update at 12:30 p.m.

The wildfire has been named the Alexander Mountain Fire and has burned approximately 800 acres of land. US Highway 34 has been closed at County Roads 29 and 43. Shelter for livestock is being taken in at the Ranch Events Complex in Loveland.

Evacuation information for pets and livestock

Update at 12:50 p.m.

More mandatory evacuations have been ordered for the Alexander Mountain Fire. Evacuations include Waltonia Road, Sylvan Dale to Ellis Ranch, and Eden Valley to Sunrise Ranch.

Voluntary evacuations have been placed for the following areas:  County Road 86C, north of Rustic, Glade Road from US Highway 34 north to Indian Creek, and County Road 18E from County Road 31 to County Road 29.

Update at 1:05 p.m.

At 12:45 p.m., the United States Forest Service, using an aircraft to map the area, estimated the Alexander Mountain Fire to be 247 acres.

Update at 1:40 p.m.

County Road 18e from Pole Hill to Pinewood Reservoir has been ordered to evacuate. Citizens in the area need to leave immediately.

Update at 2:15 p.m.

Air support for the Alexander Mountain Fire has arrived on the scene. Air support includes four helicopters, one MMA, and a large air tanker. Additional air support is en route from Wyoming to help battle the wildfire.

Update at 5:45 p.m.

Update at 7:45 p.m.

The Larimer County Sheriff's Office reported that because of the large outpouring of support, no additional volunteer resources or supplies are needed at this time.