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Cameron Peak Fire now 38% contained

Drift smoke from the Mullen Fire provided shade and moderated Red Flag Warning weather on Friday, officials said.

LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. — Shade caused by drift smoke from the Mullen Fire moderated Red Flag Warning weather at the Cameron Peak Fire on Friday, according to officials.

The Cameron Peak Fire, Colorado's third-largest wildfire on record, is now up to 38% containment, officials said. As of Oct.3, the fire had burned through 125,715 acres since it began on Aug. 13.

There are nearly 870 fire personnel fighting the fire.

The fire has damaged or destroyed 95 structures so far.

Officials said heavy equipment made advances Friday toward closing a nine-mile gap on the north side of the fire, while firefighters followed with hoses and water to mop up fire lines.

Crews worked along the Colorado Highway 14 to extinguish any heat remaining around homes. Burnouts were done on the northeast side to secure houses and personal property, officials said.

Hand crews worked areas that were difficult to access above Comanche Reservoir to improve fire lines. Firefighters continued to work along Long Draw to prevent the fire from moving farther south.

Firefighters will continue securing the perimeter and providing structure protection on Saturday.

Temperatures on Saturday were expected to be cooler, with a high in the low 60s. Winds were forecast to be light.

The Mullen Fire, burning mostly in Wyoming, was more than 25 miles to the northeast of the Cameron Peak fire, according to officials.

>The above video explains why one snowfall didn't extinguish wildfires in Colorado

Credit: U.S. Forest Service

Evacuations

Cameron Peak fire officials ordered mandatory evacuations on Friday, Sept. 25 for Glacier View filings, the Red Feather Highlands subdivision and the Lady Moon area due to "immediate and imminent danger."

Residents who live there were told to evacuate the area immediately and as quickly as possible. An evacuation center was set up at La Porte-Cache Poudre Middle School gymnasium at 3515 Co Road 54G in Laporte.

Voluntary evacuation orders issued Friday, Sept. 25 for Buckhorn Road (County Road 44H) from Pennock Pass to County Road 27 due to increased fire behavior have been lifted.

Officials said containment measures on the east side of the fire, combined with deceased fire activity in the area from County Roads 44H and 27 to Pennock, allowed the Larimer County Sheriff's Office to lift the voluntary evacuation.

Credit: nocoalert.org

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

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