Lower North Fork Fire pics, videos: Ann Appel missing, 45 percent contained

Update, 5:50 a.m. March 28: The Jefferson County coroner has identified the two people found dead in the burn zone of the Lower North Fork Fire near Conifer as Samuel and Linda Lucas, a married couple aged 77 and 76, respectively. Their bodies were inside their home; no cause of death has been determined yet. As for the fire itself, it doesn't appear to have grown substantially, but it remains dangerous. And it appears to have started from a prescribed burn.

Courtesy of Jefferson County

As of the final update from last night, delivered at around 8:25 p.m., about 4,500 acres had been consumed. That's an area about the size estimated that morning. And the weather certainly looks to be more cooperative than on Monday, when the blaze, fed by fierce winds, got out of control. The forecast calls for moderate breezes of eight to fourteen miles per hour, with gusts up to twenty, and temperatures above the seventy-degree mark. That should allow the two helicopters, P2V Aircraft and Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT) to drop water and fire retardant, as took place yesterday.

In the meantime, the origins of the fire continue to be a subject of serious discussion. Yesterday on Colorado Public Radio, evacuees talked about an allegedly controlled burn taking place in the tinder-dry area, and speculated that it was the root cause. And 9News quotes Jefferson County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Jacki Kelley as saying that "the fire is from a prescribed burn by the Colorado Forest Service that was set last week and 'escaped' about 2 p.m. on Monday."

If that proves accurate, the deaths of Samuel and Linda Lucas will likely be seen as even more tragic.

Look below to see the latest photos from Jefferson County, followed by our earlier coverage:

Courtesy of Jefferson County

Courtesy of Jefferson County

Courtesy of Jefferson County

Update 3:32 p.m. March 27: More and more firefighters are attacking the Lower North Fork Fire near Conifer, but that doesn't mean they've got a handle on the blaze.

Indeed, pre-evacuation notices have been sent to 6,500 homes in the area, so residents will be ready to get out quickly in case the fire takes a sudden and even more destructive turn.

Here's the roster of the areas whose resident received a notice:

Dear Creek Mesa
Deer Creek Canyon Park
Homewood Park
Hilldale Pines
South Murphy Gulch Road
Watson Gulch Road
South East of S. Turkey Creek Rd
White Deer Valley
Jennings Road

And here's a look at the latest map of the fire, which has consumed more than 4,500 acres thus far:

The land inside the blue line is the original evacuation zone, Jeffco authorities note. As such, the 6,500 homes recently contacted are presumably outside that section. Folks who live there haven't received a mandatory evacuation order yet, but that remains a possibility, especially given the conditions.

Look below for our previous coverage.

Update 1:15 p.m. March 27: The news just keeps getting worse in regard to the Lower North Fork Fire, which continues burning out of control near Conifer.

Now, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, the amount of scorched earth has reached 4,500 acres-plus. Even worse, a second body has been found.

The Jeffco blogspot notes that the second fatality was found near the first. Neither of the victims have been identified at this writing, but the working theory is that they were not members of the crews battling the blaze.

At least sixteen structures have burned thus far as well, and a Type 1 incident management team is expected this evening from Montana's Great Basin Area -- an indication that federal authorities will take over management of the response to the conflagration. Also slated to visit the scene: Colorado Lieutenant Governor Joe Garcia.

A Single Engine Air Tanker, known by the acryonym SEAT, as well as a P2V airplane and two National Guard helicopters are involved in dropping fire retardant or water on the impacted area. Meanwhile, road closures include, Foxton Road & Running Deer Road, Pleasant Park Road & Oehlmann Park Road, Deer Creek Canyon Road & Maxwell Hill, and South Platte River Road to Foxton Road. In addition, Foxton Road at US Highway 285 has limited access.

Below, see the latest photo provided by Jeffco, followed by our previous coverage.

Courtesy of Jefferson County

Page down to see more of our earlier coverage, as well as additional photos and videos of the Lower North Fork Fire.