Larimer County officials said the Kruger Rock Fire was reported shortly before 7 a.m. and had grown to more than 130 acres by 6:30 p.m. local time. It was about 15 percent on Tuesday evening.
The Hay Estes Park Emergency Communications Center said that residents and businesses in the Little Valley and Hermit Park area are under mandatory evacuation for “immediate and imminent danger.” A voluntary evacuation is recommended for residents and businesses in the Meadowdale area and along Highway 36.
Portions of US 36 in the region were closed due to the fire, according to the . Colorado Department of Transportation.
Currently, winds near the Kruger Rock Fire are blowing west at 25 to 30 mph with gusts expected to reach 50 mph. This wind direction will push the fire to the southeast away from Estes Park, where mandatory and voluntary evacuations are in place.
The area will remain breezy with gusts up to 40 mph until mid-afternoon, when a cold front is expected to shift to the northeast and wind speeds will drop to 10 to 20 mph.
The National Meteorological Service in Boulder predicts that there is little chance of fan-driven fires developing due to air humidity greater than 25% humidity.
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