Alexander Mountain fire grows as wildfire danger accelerates in Colorado

The Alexander Mountain fire in northern Colorado continues to grow, as hot and dry conditions increase the risk of wildfires throughout the state.

Threat level: So far this fire season, an average snowpack and moisture through early summer kept fire danger moderated, but that is beginning to change, Boyd Lebeda, a state fire intelligence coordinator tells us.

• The conditions — particularly the low relative humidity — allowed the Alexander Fire west of Loveland to spread to 5,080 acres as of Wednesday morning. It is 0% contained.
• The growth led to additional evacuation orders for the Masonville area as well as Hidden Valley.

What they're saying: "We're trending from a moderate level toward higher fire danger potential right now," Lebeda says. "The rest of this week is continued super hot temperatures and crazy dry air."

Zoom in: The blaze's proximity to major roads and communities prompted officials to request a complex incident management team with more resources.

• An estimated 220 firefighters on the ground, as well as helicopters and planes overhead, battled the blaze Tuesday, incident commander Mike Smith said .
• The upside is a lack of strong winds that would increase the fire's danger.

The big picture: 13 wildfires are burning more than 6,800 acres in Colorado right now, most in the southwestern part of the state.

• The latest is a blaze in Lyons that quickly grew to 450 acres and prompted evacuations.

What we're watching: The long-range forecast suggests a bit of relief next week with cooler and less dry air. But from mid-August into the fall, officials are expecting fire-prone conditions to continue.