A Look Back: The Alexander Mountain Fire (2024)

In late July 2024, the Alexander Mountain Fire ignited near Loveland, Colorado, and rapidly became one of the region’s most urgent wildfire incidents.

Timeline & Impact

• Ignition & Spread

  • The fire began on July 29, near Drake, just north of Highway 34. By early afternoon, it had burned over 300 acres, and within two hours, it surged past 950 acres with 0% containment.

• Escalation

  • Fueled by extreme heat, low humidity, and dry vegetation, the fire expanded to 5,080 acres by July 30. Over 270 firefighters were on the scene, supported by aerial crews dropping water and fire retardant.

• Widespread Destruction

  • As the fire roared on, it ultimately destroyed 26 to 27 homes and damaged several others. In total, more than 50 structures were lost across 9,600 to 9,668 acres burned.

• Containment & Cause

  • By mid-August, the Alexander Mountain Fire was fully contained after nearly three weeks of fighting efforts. Investigators confirmed the fire was human-caused, though exact motives or mechanisms remain under investigation.

    
    

Community & Recovery

• Evacuations & Shelter Thousands of residents were evacuated from areas in Big Thompson Canyon and surrounding foothills. Temporary shelters were provided, including spaces for families and animals.

• Support & Rebuilding Larimer County’s Long-Term Recovery Group (LTRG) provided case management and rebuilding assistance to affected residents. Recovery efforts included erosion mitigation, debris cleanup, and support for property owners affected by the fire.

• Continuing Impact In 2025, survivors returned to reflect and rebuild. One of the affected homeowners visited their property west of Loveland for the first time since the fire, underscoring both personal loss and resilience.

Why It Matters

The Alexander Mountain Fire underscores how vulnerable even mid-elevation forests like those east of Drake are during times of drought and drought-driven heat. The quick escalation highlights the importance of preparedness, early response, and community coordination.

Resources & Further Reading

• Colorado Sun: Alexander Mountain fire explodes to 5,000 acres…InciWeb+12The Colorado Sun+12Wikipedia+12

• Colorado Sun: 20+ structures burned, damaged…The Colorado Sun

• Colorado Sun: Fire fully contained after burning nearly 3 weeks…Wikipedia+15The Colorado Sun+15Denver 7 Colorado News (KMGH)+15

• CPR News: Wildfire burns near Loveland…Larimer County+8Colorado Public Radio+8Colorado Public Radio+8

• CPR News: Fire was human-caused…Larimer County+7Colorado Public Radio+7Denver 7 Colorado News (KMGH)+7

• Larimer County: Alexander Mountain Fire Recovery…Axios+15Larimer County+15Wikipedia+15

• CBS News: Community rebuilding one year later…Facebook