High Park fire update: 85 percent containment, many subdivisions reopened

Update, 5:56 a.m. June 13: Those battling the High Park fire near Fort Collins made some progress yesterday. Containment rose from 0 percent to 10 percent by last night, and while the blaze keeps expanding, its rate of growth is slowing; it added around 2,000 acres to its present total of 43,000-plus after more than doubling the day before. But the rise of a so-called "spot fire" 120 acres in size shows just how dangerous the situation remains. And that's not to mention the smoke.

Courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service

The InciWeb page devoted to the High Park fire points out that 634 personnel were on site as of yesterday -- meaning 200 more folks were on the lines and in the air than 24 hours earlier. Also employed: five heavy air tankers, five SEATs (single engine air tankers), four Type 1 heavy helitankers, three Type 2 helicopters, four Type 3 helicopter, three Blackhawk helicopers and 37 engines -- and additional resources have been ordered. The cost to date is estimated at $3 million.

Meanwhile, the evacuation situation remains very fluid. According to the Larimer County Sheriff's Office, the evacuation area south of County Road 38E from Gindler Ranch Road west to Milner Ranch Road was lifted, with residents given the all-clear to return to their homes as of noon yesterday. However, evacuation orders were issued for the entire Pingree Park Road area, to include Hourglass and Comanche Reservoirs, east on the Buckhorn Road up to and including Pennock Pass, northeast to the intersection of Stove Prairie Road and Highway 14, and west to the intersection of Highway 14 and Pingree Park Road. And future evacs remain possible, particularly on the west side of the fire, where an estimated 70 percent of the trees have been killed by pine beetles, transforming them into ideal tinder.

Courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service

In the meantime, authorities are describing the number of structures impacted by the fire as "undetermined" -- that after an LCSO rep suggested that more than 100 could have been damaged or destroyed. Music lovers have been keeping a particularly close eye on the Mishawaka Amphitheatre, whose Facebook page has become a good stopping spot for updates. Here's the most recent note, posted last night, which puts the situation in perspective:

The news reports confirm our understanding that the Northwest edge of the fire remains very threatening to the Mish, but that she remains undamaged at this point.

We want to reiterate how devastated we are by the horrific loss throughout the affected areas. While loved by all of us, the Mish is but a business -- many, many people have lost much more.

Our hopes and payers continue to go out to everyone negatively affected and those still on harm's way.

Speaking of perspective, the following video offers plenty: It was shot on Sunday from a plane flying from Portland to Chicago. That's followed by more vivid photos courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service and our previous coverage.

Courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service

Courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service

Page down to see more photos and our previous coverage.