No structures lost over weekend on CSU Mountain Campus

Structures on the Colorado State University Mountain Campus were spared this past weekend as the Cameron Peak fire burned through the area driven by strong winds.

“We share our tremendous gratitude to all the fire personnel who worked for weeks to protect the campus — thank so so very much,” CSU President Joyce McConnell said Monday morning in the tweet.

Located about 24 miles west of Fort Collins at a 9,000- foot elevation, CSU’s 1,600- acre Mountain Campus hosts “research projects in a variety of academic disciplines, including wildlife biology, forestry, watershed science, biology and renewable energy,” according to its website.

Firefighters installed fire protection apparatus on the mountain campus, including hoses, portable water reservoirs and sprinklers, anticipating the fire’s wind- driven approach over the weekend. In close coordination with the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Services, firefighters continue efforts in and around the mountain campus, Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp and the Pingree Park community, fire officials said in a Monday morning briefing.

Firefighters have gained new containment along the northeast side from Forest Service Road 333 Road to Bellaire Lake, officials said. Firefighters continue to monitor the fire in Monument Gulch east along Old Flowers Road.

As of Monday, the fire has burned 134,559 acres, about 210 square miles, and it is 47% contained, according to InciWeb.

On Sunday, the fire was “active” in the morning before “calming down as much needed moisture moved” in just before noon, according to the Monday morning report. A light snow fell in the area.

Just before 2 p. m. Sunday, the evacuation order for Colorado 14 from Kelly Flats west to the Fish Hatchery was downgraded from mandatory to voluntary, fire officials said. “Out of an abundance of caution, new closures were issued by the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Rocky Mountain National Park.”

Windy weather was expected in the fire area on Monday with gusts up to 40 mph. Skies are partly cloudy, with a high temperature around 50 degrees and relative humidity at about 25%, according to the forecast.