Fires both north and south of Laramie inspire pre-evacuation notices

The Bear Creek Fire is at least 40% contained, but officials say area residents should still be prepared to leave. A Colorado fire is asking the same of county residents near the stateline.

Separate fires — one in the Sybille Canyon north of Laramie, the other originating in Larimer County south of the state border — have placed some Albany County residents under pre-evacuation notices.

“Please make preparations to evacuate the area in the event that an Evacuation Order is issued,” states a social media post from Albany County Emergency Management. “You do not need to leave at this time, but should begin preparing to leave with your household members, essential belongings, pets and livestock.”

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The Bear Creek Fire

Map showing the pre-evacuation notice area for the Bear Creek Fire, provided by Albany County Emergency Management.

A pre-evacuation notice was first issued for a stretch of Sybille Canyon Thursday afternoon as personnel from various agencies responded to a new grass fire near Bear Creek.

The notice affects residents living along State Highway 34, the road connecting Laramie to Wheatland.

Initially estimated at 2,500 acres, ACEM revised that number Friday evening after an aerial assessment, settling on 1,422 acres.

“Crews and engines continue to secure the fire perimeter and a helicopter remains on scene to help crews where engines cannot get into the fire,” notes an update posted Saturday morning. “60 personnel from multiple agencies are still working the fire and include five Smoke Jumpers, a Helitack crew, hand crews and engines from local departments/agencies.”

The fire’s acreage changed little over the weekend, ticking up to 1,432 acres by Sunday morning, then to 1,444 acres Sunday evening.

As of last night, ACEM estimated the fire was 40% contained. Watch Duty, citing the National Interagency Fire Center, estimates containment at 60%.

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The Pearl Fire

Map showing the pre-evacuation notice area for the Pearl Fire, provided by Albany County Emergency Management.

A new wildfire in Larimer County, Colorado, first reported today, has led to mandatory evacuations south of Wyoming’s border.

Albany County Emergency Management issued a pre-evacuation notice around 2 p.m. for its side of the border, affecting residents from the stateline north through Tie Siding on land west of Highway 287.

According to the latest available estimate, the fire had grown to about 140 acres with no official estimate for the level of containment.