After a two-month closure due to the Cameron Peak fire, Colorado 14 reopened Saturday between Fort Collins and Walden — though officials urged drivers to only use the route if necessary.
While fire activity in the immediate area has diminished, state transportation crews said they still need to clear debris from the shoulders and do other repair work to the get the road ready for winter snow season, the Colorado Department of Transportation said Saturday.
“This is not a good time to be on Colorado 14,” CDOT Region Transportation Director Heather Paddock said in a news release. “I know people are curious about the area and the fire, but there will be plenty of time to return to the area when conditions are better. We wanted to open this road to allow access for people who need this travel option right now as other routes have closed. There is still a lot of work to be done here, and the fewer people up there right now, the better it will be for everyone.”
The road closed Aug. 13 after the Cameron Peak fire grew to 1,500 acres. The fire has since grown to 207,464 acres — becoming the largest in Colorado history — with 60% containment.
The fire is mostly burning to the south of Colorado 14, and cooler temperatures — along with snowfall — are expected to tamper any growth.
Wildfire map
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