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By Anna Skinner
Associate News Editor
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Some residents in Loveland, Colorado, received a mandatory evacuation order from NOCO Alert, the city's emergency notification system, on Monday afternoon after a wildfire ignited in Larimer County.
The Alexander Mountain Fire is estimated to be around 247 acres, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Flames were being fought by Larimer County Emergency Services, the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority and several partner agencies. The Larimer County Sheriff's Office was handling evacuations. Mandatory evacuations were first issued from Drake to Dam Store along Highway 34, including Storm Mountain and Palisade Mountain.
Evacuation orders are changing quickly. Mandatory evacuation orders have since been issued for Waltonia Road, Eden Valley to Sunrise Ranch, and Sylvan Dale to Ellis Ranch, which were previously under a voluntary evacuation order.
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The voluntary evacuation orders have expanded to include residents off of County Road 86C, north of Rustic; residents off of Glade Road, from Highway 34 north to Indian Creek; and citizens off County Road 18E, from County Road 31 to County Road 29. Residents were urged to gather essential items and prepare to leave.
"Mandatory Evacuations ordered for CR18E from Pole Hill to Pinewood Reservoir. Citizens in this area should EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY," the Larimer Emergency Telephone Authority said in its most recent evacuation update.
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A Larimer County Sheriff's Office spokesperson told Newsweek that officials are unsure about the fire's origin.
The fire caused officials to shut down part of Highway 34, which is one of the main thoroughfares leading to Rocky Mountain National Park. The highway is closed between County Road 29 and County Road 43. The sheriff's office spokesperson said the road closures could affect traffic in and out of the national park.
The U.S. Forest Service first posted about the Alexander Mountain Fire at around 12:20 p.m. local time, when it said the blaze was around 100 acres and growing. At that time, local fire engines and crews were on the way, and air support had been ordered.
The fire has since grown.
"Aircraft just flew the #AlexanderMountainFire and mapped the fire at 247 acres as of 12:45 pm," the Forest Service posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Pictures from the wildfire were shared across social media and showed plumes of smoke billowing into the sky.
"Wildfire just broke out just west of #Loveland," one user posted on X, along with pictures.
"Here is the view of the fire from our office in Boulder. We are working with our partners to provide weather observations and forecasts. Please heed any evacuations and avoid Highway 34 near the fire," the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Boulder posted on X.
As of Monday afternoon, a heat advisory and an air quality alert were in place in the Loveland area, according to the NWS.
The Larimer County Sheriff's Office said that evacuation centers have been set up at Namaqua Elementary School and the Estes Park Events Complex. The evacuation location for animals is set up at the Ranch.
Update 7/29/24, 3:50 p.m. ET: This story was updated with additional information and background.
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