COVID-19 restrictions tightened for Denver due to hike in cases

Blazes slowed by snow, show no activity Tuesday

Denver moved to Colorado’s second-highest level of COVID-19 restrictions Tuesday, forcing most businesses to operate at a quarter of their capacity in an effort to curb the virus’ spread and avoid overwhelming hospitals.

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock announced the state health department had asked the city to tighten its restrictions after weeks of climbing coronavirus cases and rising hospitalizations.

Denver Public Schools followed with plans to send many of the district’s elementary students — who just had returned to their classrooms — back to remote learning.

The changes in Denver are in effect immediately, though businesses have until the end of the day Wednesday to adjust. Adams and Arapahoe counties also will see changes starting Wednesday evening as they move into more restrictive phases of reopening.

State and public health officials repeated warnings Tuesday that Colorado’s hospitals are under pressure, and the number of patients could exceed available beds by the end of the year.

As the Cameron Peak Fire team contends with 15 to 20 inches of snow, officials announced Tuesday that more than 400 structures, including 26 primary homes, have been destroyed.

With snow covering the fire, the Cameron Peak Fire team is continuing to assess where to fight the fire best. While the snow has hampered activity and growth, it has also made roads too difficult for firefighters to work.

The Cameron Peak Fire has burned 208,663 acres and stands at 64% containment and the East Troublesome Thompson Zone spot fire has burned 4,346 acres and stands at 0% containment.

On Tuesday, Larimer County’s director of emergency management, Lori Hodges, said during a county commissioners meeting that the Cameron Peak Fire has destroyed a total of 425 structures, while another three had major damage and five minor damage. Of the 425 structures destroyed, 209 of them are homes, 26 of which are primary residences, and 17 are at the

Shambhala Center, she said. The rest are outbuildings.

Hodges also said the East Troublesome spot fire damaged some structures, but she did not report how many and could not confirm how many were private and how many part of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Tuesday morning marked the first day for the Pacific Northwest Type 1 Incident Management Team on the fire.

In a morning update, the team said they recognize this has been a “long and trying time” for the local and surrounding communities impacted by these fires and “will continue the aggressive suppression efforts through direct attack where it is safe to do so and implementing indirect tactics where there is the highest probability of success.”

While the snow was not a season ending event, it has been considered a slowing event, causing the fire to stay where it is for the time being.

Crews are anticipating that while activity is decreased now, the fire could become more active as temperatures increase later in the week.

Due to inaccessible and hazardous road conditions brought on by the snow, fire personnel will continue to assess the effects of the fire to focus priorities once fire suppression work resumes.

Some additional residents will be allowed to return to their Crystal Mountain properties on Wednesday, escorted by the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office and fire crews to ensure that the way is clear.

The Sheriff’s Office did not post any updated evacuation changes Tuesday. The most recent change came Monday, as the east side of County Road 27 from Masonville to the Stove Prairie School was downgraded from mandatory evacuation to voluntar y.

All updated evacuation areas, both mandatory and voluntary, can be found at nocoalert.org.