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  • Sat. Oct 26th, 2024
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    Two small wildfires are burning in Larimer County as the first frost threatens
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    Two small wildfires are burning in Larimer County as the first frost threatens

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    Much of Larimer County is under a warning alert Thursday as firefighters battle a small wildfire in the northern part of the county.

    A frost warning is in effect for part of the district early Friday morning.

    Here's what you should know about each.

    The red flag warning is in effect for much of Larimer County

    The red flag warning covers areas of Larimer County from 9,000 feet and lower, south to Castle Rock and Limon, and part of the Eastern Plains.

    The warning went into effect at 10 a.m. and is expected to last until 6 p.m

    The National Weather Service said conditions were favorable for rapid fire spread due to northwest winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 to 60 mph and relative humidity as low as 17%.

    People who spend time outdoors are urged to take special precautions to avoid starting a forest fire.

    Two small wildfires in Larimer County are mostly under control

    Containment efforts were underway Wednesday evening against the Deadhorse and Panhandle wildfires in northern Larimer County, according to the Roosevelt National Forest.

    The fires reported Wednesday afternoon were estimated to be about 2 acres in size and burning northwest of Black Mountain. This area is northwest of Red Feather Lakes and near the Pearl Fire, which began on September 16 and burned 128 acres.

    Forest Service officials said the Pearl Fire was caused by humans. No cause has been announced for the Deadhorse and Panhandle fires.

    As of Thursday morning, crews had begun clearing obstacles along the barrier and air resources will continue to assist, the agency said in a Thursday morning Facebook post.

    On Wednesday, crews worked on the containment line with the help of aircraft and a bulldozer. Firefighters camped in the area overnight to monitor the fire.

    Could Fort Collins experience its first fall frost?

    The city set a record for the most recent first frost, but that frost-free period could end in the early hours of Friday.

    The previous record for the most recent freeze in Fort Collins was Oct. 24, 2015, at the city's official weather station on Colorado State University's main campus, according to Russ Schumacher, Colorado's state climatologist, director of the Colorado Climate Center and professor in the department of atmospheric sciences the CSU.

    The National Weather Service issued a freeze warning from midnight to 9 a.m. Friday for an area that includes Larimer County below 6,000 feet and much of the Eastern Plains.

    The forecast low temperature for Fort Collins during this time is 32 degrees.

    Even a light frost can damage sensitive outdoor vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers.

    Click here to learn how to protect your tender plants and sprinkler system from frost damage.

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