'100 acres and growing': Wildfire prompts mandatory evacs on Colorado Front Range

On Monday around noon, news of the Alexander Fire started to break online, with witnesses reporting a large plume of smoke that popped up in the mountains just west of Loveland, Colorado.

The US Forest Service has since released an update on the fire's size at about 12:20 p.m. – "100 acres and growing" – also noting that local engines and crews are working to battle the blaze with air support having been ordered. The fire has since been reassessed at 247 acres as of 12:45 p.m.

A mandatory evacuation order is currently underway for the area from Drake to Dam Store along Highway 34, with a portion of Highway 34 closed from County Road 29 to County Road 34. An area previously under 'voluntary evacuation' has since moved to 'mandatory evacuation,' as well, including those on Waltonia Road, Sylvan Dale to Ellis Ranch, and Eden Valley to Sunrise Ranch. Those near Bobcat Ridge and Flatiron Reservoir have been told to "evacuate immediately."

There's also a voluntary evacuation notice for citizens off of CR86C, north of Rustic and citizens off of Glade Rd from HWY 34 north to Indian Creek, and citizens off CR18E from CR31 to CR 29.

Witnesses report quite a bit of smoke being produced by the fire, along with visible flames.

This is a developing story and rapid changes are expected. Ongoing updates about this situation can be found here .

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