A fast-moving grass fire southeast of Carter Lake in Larimer County threatened many large homes in the Sedona Hills subdivision and caused the evacuation of some residents.
The fire also threatened a water filtration plant on Larimer County Road 8E.
Firefighters were handicapped by high winds, estimated at one point by a firefighter as 60 mph but later diminished to 10 mph with gusts to 30 mph. Firefighters managed to save two homes that faced the greatest threat, authorities said.
The fire near the south dam of Carter Lake was first reported about 6 p.m., and by 9 p.m., Larimer County sheriff’s spokeswoman Eloise Campanella said in a statement, it had burned 150 acres.
“No structures have been damaged, but several are threatened,” Campanella said.
A reverse 911 emergency notification went out to three dozen to four dozen homes within a mile of County Road 8E and Sedona Hills Drive urging residents to evacuate, Campanella said. The Red Cross said about 15 people took shelter at Berthoud High School.
Sheriff’s Deputy Kathy Messick said the Loveland Fire Department was first on the scene and reported that 30 to 50 acres already was ablaze.
“It’s pretty breezy down there,” Messick said.
She said firefighters first reported the fire was burning to the east, but the wind shifted and it headed southeast.
“They were in the direct line of the fire,” Messick said.
Much of the firefight was along Snowy Ridge Lane, which runs north and south, parallel to the foothills.
Firefighters from the Loveland, Berthoud, Mountain View, Poudre Fire Authority, Wellington, Big Thompson, Windsor, Greeley, Milliken, Platteville, Lyons, Pinewood Springs, Estes Park, Fort Lupton and Johnston departments took part in the firefighting effort.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Staff writer Jim Kirksey can be reached at 303-820-1448 or jkirksey@denverpost.com.
