Multiple agencies responded Saturday afternoon to a grass fire between Fort Collins and Loveland.
The Spring Glade fire, near Coyote Ridge Natural Area, grew to 364 acres and was 60 percent contained at 6:30 p.m., according to the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office.
Evacuation notices were sent to the surrounding area to 124 residents’ devices, but evacuations were lifted after 7 p.m.. The Red Cross set up an evacuation center at Lucile Erwin Middle School, 4700 Lucerne Ave, Loveland, but closed it later Saturday evening.
Three structures were threatened but none had been damaged. It is unknown whether the structures are homes.
Multiple crews on-scene and SEAT aircraft are in in the air. Larimer Fire Rescue Authority, Poudre Fire Authority and others are on the scene with the Sheriff’s Office.
“Anything can happen,” said David Moore, spokesperson for the sheriff’s office. “We wanted to put as many resources on the front end (of the fire) to hopefully knock it down soon.”
Moore said the heat and windy conditions in the area are “not helping” the situation. Larimer County has been under fire restrictions recently. The fire spans both sides of the ridge, and is causing some communication difficulties for crews as the ridge creates a dead zone, Moore said.
The Coyote Ridge Natural Area is closed as a result of the fire, and hikers were evacuated near Horsetooth Reservoir.
The fire sparked just about 11 a.m. behind a home near the end of Spring Glade Road, which is northwest of Wilson Avenue and 43rd Street in Loveland. Neighbors told the Loveland Reporter-Herald that a lawnmower hit a rock, causing a spark that took off.
It exploded,” Bonnie McDermid, who lives nearby, told the newspaper. “It sparked and the wind took it like crazy.”
Fire officials could not immediately confirm the cause of the fire, saying it is still under investigation.
This is a developing story and will be updated.