A wildfire that charred several acres and forced early morning evacuations in northern Colorado on Wednesday was likely started by an ember from a container of burning trees and brush that were thinned by state crews to reduce wildfire risk.
Coloradans who evacuated from homes near Carter Lake Reservoir in Larimer County because of the Cougar Run fire were able to return home Wednesday as firefighters gained control of the flames, according to county officials.
Several miles of homes along County Road 31 south of Carter Lake Reservoir, southwest of Loveland, were under on Wednesday, according to the Larimer County Office of Emergency Management. were also issued for homes in the Blue Mountain and Spring Valley areas, west of the lake.
All mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders were lifted by 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, .
The Cougar Run fire was first reported just after 6 a.m. Wednesday and consumed an estimated 3.5 acres before it was fully contained, . The flames were no longer active as of 8:20 a.m., but evacuations were not immediately lifted, Larimer County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Kate Kimble said.
“There are still hotspots, and that takes a while to ensure that there’s no hotspots,” Kimble said in an interview on scene.
The Cougar Run fire likely started from an escaped ember from an incinerator used to burn debris created by thinning trees and brush to reduce the risk of wildfires, Larimer County officials said.
The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control had recently conducted “fuels reduction treatments” nearby, including using an air curtain burner, or a semi-enclosed box to burn slash and debris, county officials said in a news release.
The county initially ordered air resources to help fight the fire from above, but ground crews were able to get the fire under control and called off those services, Kimble said.
showed waves of smoke blowing across land near the lake.
This is an active wildfire in Larimer County. It is just west of Carter Lake.
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The county is anticipating a tough wildfire season, Kimble said. Residents should be prepared to evacuate and be mindful of fire restrictions, she added.
“It takes a community to prevent anything on a large scale,” Kimble said.
