Areas along Colorado 125 that were evacuated because of the East Troublesome fire reopened on Thursday, as did the highway which was shut down since October 17.
“The highway is now open for thru traffic and property owners may re-enter the area,” according to the Grand County Office of Emergency Management.
Anyone entering the fire-ravaged area should be aware of hazards including smoldering fire and falling trees, emergency management said.
The section opened Thursday was the last remaining closed off residential area in the massive wildfire zone. Utility companies are working on restoring energy to the hard hit area where many homes were burned to the ground. In all, more than 300 homes and between 100 and 200 secondary structures, such as barns and garages, were destroyed by the wildfire.
The East Troublesome fire, the second-largest wildfire in Colorado history, has burned 193,804 acres, almost 303 square miles. It is 37% contained, according to fire officials.
At the Cameron Peak fire, burning in Larimer County, smoke was visible in some areas on Thursday, fire officials said in an update.
Strong southwest winds, ahead of a weekend cold front, was expected Thursday, but fire behavior was limited mostly to single-tree torching, firefighters said.
“The threat of fire-weakened trees falling in the gusty winds remains a hazard to firefighters and anyone in the burned area,” fire officials said.
The weekend cold front is expected to bring moisture, beginning as rain on Saturday night, before changing to snow on Sunday and Monday, fire weather forecasters said.
The Cameron Peak fire, the largest wildfire in Colorado history, has burned 208,913 acres, or 326 square miles, since starting on Aug. 13. It is 92% contained and the cause of the wildfire remains under investigation.
