Cameron Peak Fire burns over 1,500 acres west of Fort Collins

The fire started Thursday afternoon

Updated August 14, 2020 | 7:39 a.m. MDT

Map of the Cameron Peak Fire
Map of the Cameron Peak Fire at 8:38 p.m. MDT August 13, 2020.

A map from data collected at 8:48 p.m. MDT August 13 shows that the Cameron Peak Fire 36 miles west of Fort Collins, Colorado had burned about 1,540 acres. It is spreading in the Roosevelt National Forest between 8,900 and 10,500 feet above sea level and is under the management of a Type 3 Incident Management Team. A Type 2 Team has been ordered.

To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Cameron Peak Fire, including the most recent, click here.

The fire is near Cameron Pass, 15 miles southwest of Red Feather Lakes.


August 13, 2020 | 9:22 p.m. MDT

Cameron Peak Fire map
The Cameron Peak Fire is 36 miles west of Fort Collins, Colorado

When the Cameron Peak Fire was reported in mid-afternoon Thursday resources dispatched included, in addition to firefighters on the ground, a load of smokejumpers, three helicopters, two large air tankers, and four Single Engine Air Tankers. Within a short time it put up a very large smoke column topped by pyrocumulus clouds which indicate high fire intensity. After 5 p.m. the aircraft were unable to assist due to strong winds. At 7:15 p.m. the U.S. Forest Service estimated it had burned 1,540 acres.

The fire is burning in the Rawah Wilderness on the Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests near Highway 14 and Chambers Lake.

Cameron Peak Fire
Cameron Peak Fire. Photo by @CritterCat2020 August 13, 2020.

The Larimer County Sheriff’s office ordered evacuations at about 4:30 p.m. Thursday for Chambers Lake and areas near the intersection of Highway 14 and CR 103.

Cameron Peak Fire map
The red dots represent heat detected on the Cameron Peak Fire by a satellite at 2:12 p.m. MDT August 13, 2020. There were other detections two miles to the east, but they may be false positives from heat in the smoke column and will need verification.

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Author: Bill Gabbert

After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire.

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