Strong winds expected to fuel High Park Fire Sunday

Larimer County officials said high fire danger and strong winds present a challenge for firefighters working on the High Park Fire Sunday.

Firefighters were able to increase their containment of the fire to 45 percent Sunday, but there are worries that winds could fuel the fire.

A Red Flag warning was issued in the Poudre Canyon area until 8 p.m. Sunday, with wind gust up to 50 mph. Incident commander Bill Hahnenberg said he is confident with the resources on hand.

The fire has burned 86 square miles and damaged 181 homes, fire officials said. Larimer County officials estimate the total damage of $10.8 million as of Sunday morning.

The destructiveness of the High Park Fire burning 15 miles west of Fort Collins surpassed the Fourmile Canyon wildfire, which destroyed 169 homes west of Boulder in September 2010.

More than 1,630 personnel are working on the Fort Collins-area fire, which was sparked by lightning June 9.

The following is a list of where homes were damaged, according to the Larimer County Sheriff’s Department:

-Soldier Canyon – 1
-Missile Silo Road – 1
-Cloudy Pass – 1
-Picnic Rock – 1
-Pine Acres – 5
-Stratton Park – 21
-Poudre Canyon – 17
-Spring Valley – 3
-Old Flowers – 1
-Whale Rock – 40
-Paradise Park – 12
-Tip Top – 2
-Rist Creek – 7
-Davis Ranch – 51
-Laurence Creek/Redstone – 0
-Buckhorn (CR44H) – Unknown
-Stove Prairie Road – 10
-Rist Canyon – 8

The Larimer County Sheriff’s Department said teams are still working to identify the specific addresses of damaged homes. Residents who want to find out the status of their home can call 970-619-4086 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.