1:18 p.m.: Evacuations were lifted for the Sterry fire in Laporte and fire crews are on mop up duty, . Roads that were closed during the firefighting effort have also been opened. Crews are spraying water and fighting hotspots by hand. Residents are asked to stop calling 911 and other emergency services about the fire.
Mandatory evacuations are underway in Laporte in Larimer County because of a wildfire.
The evacuations were ordered around noon Thursday for Terry Lake Road south to Vine Drive and from Colorado 287 west to North Overland Trail.
Authorities are instructing people in the area to leave immediately.
Thursday’s wildfire risk is being fueled by dry, windy weather that’s causing highway crashes, road closures and widespread power outages.
The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning with critical fire conditions expected across Colorado’s Front Range and Eastern Plains.
The warning is in place from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday for parts of Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Douglas, Denver, El Paso, Elbert, Jefferson, Larimer, Lincoln, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington and Weld counties.
