Mandatory evacuations were lifted about four hours after they were ordered for a 12-acre wildfire near Carter Lake reported just before 3 p.m. Monday, according to officials.
No injuries were reported and no structures were damaged as of 5:30 p.m., Berthoud Fire Protection District spokesperson Andrew Kuiken said at the scene.
The fire, which was 100% contained as of 6:48 p.m., was near the 2600 block of Sedona Hills Drive in Loveland, according to information aired on Pulse Point, an app that allows users to receive live alerts from various departments. Emergency evacuations were ordered for the Sedona Hills neighborhood, northeast of Carter Lake, just before 3:30 p.m., according to , and were at 6:56 p.m.
The Red Cross opened an evacuation center at Grace Place Church, 375 Meadowlark Drive in Berthoud; it closed after evacuations lifted.
The fire, previously estimated at around 30 acres, was mapped at 12 acres as of 5:38 p.m., Kuiken said.
Kuiken said firefighters were dealing with dry conditions and strong winds at the scene, saying that despite the snow just a few days ago, grass, bushes and brush have dried out enough to allow a fire to spread quickly.
“If you look at how dry, that is, it’s still splintering, it’s still very dry, and that’s what’s burning up there right now,” Kuiken said while holding pieces of grass near the media staging area by County Roads 29 and 20. “It’s still very, very dry and the fire danger’s still very high out here.”
He said he didn’t know what caused the fire to ignite in the Sedona Hills neighborhood.
He added that multiple crews assisted, including Loveland Fire Rescue Authority, Berthoud Fire Protection District, multiple Larimer County crews, Poudre Fire, Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, and Thompson Valley EMS.
A helicopter brought water to and from the scene from Carter Lake, and two single-engine tankers were dropping fire retardant, Kuiken said. He added that the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention also worked on creating an infrared map of the fire.
The evacuation alert was sent to 734 contacts, said Larimer County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Kate Kimble at the scene.
Dozens of residents were seen evacuating near South Colorado 29 and County Road 18E, including many with horses and other livestock. Others driving down County Road 29 stopped to receive directions and information from the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office deputy patrolling the intersection.
Evacuating residents with large animals could take them to The Ranch Events Complex, 5280 Arena Circle in Loveland, while residents with small animals (including poultry) could go to the NOCO Humane Larimer Campus, 3501 E. 71st St.
Residents should call NOCO Humane at 970-226-3647 option 7 to inquire about small animals before going there.
