FORT COLLINS — Officials issued a precautionary evacuation in Larimer County on Tuesday night after the 3,200-acre Crystal fire flared up.
Just before 6:30 p.m., the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office issued a telephone notification to residents along Moondance Way, Red Tail Ridge Way and Stringtown Gulch Road to evacuate the area. In addition, residents along Lightning Ridge Way, Ohana Way, Deer Path Street and the lower portion of Wildsong Road have been contacted to evacuate. About 24 homes are affected.
Officials said Walt Clark Middle School, at 2605 Carlisle Drive in Loveland, was available as a Red Cross shelter.
Earlier, officials said crews hoped to contain the blaze by the end of the week.
But they worried that heavy winds overnight could breathe new life into the wildfire, which has already destroyed 15 homes. Winds gusted to 40 mph in the afternoon, grounding three helicopters that were dousing the flames.
“If those winds blow, this could be breathing fire once again,” Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith said.
The fire, considered 15 percent contained, was burning in two spots 10 miles northwest of Masonville.
