Sterry Fire

At approximately 11:30 AM on March 12, 2026, Fort Collins 911 dispatchers were flooded with calls reporting a fast-moving vegetation fire ignited behind 413 N. Highway 287. Poudre Fire Authority (PFA) was immediately dispatched to the scene. While en-route, Battalion 1 requested a second-alarm brush fire reconfiguration based on the volume of incoming reports.

Upon pulling onto the scene, the Battalion Chief officially assumed command and observed vegetation fire with 40-to-50-foot flame lengths running to the east. The incident was immediately upgraded to a Major Incident, triggering a surge of command staff to manage the complex logistics of the incident

The fire posed an immediate and direct threat to nearby residential neighborhoods. As law enforce crews began the task of evacuating hundreds of residents, interagency support was requested from the Colorado State Patrol and the Colorado Department of Transportation to shut down the highway, allowing Larimer County Sheriff’s Office to begin evacuations.

The battle was complicated by hazardous weather. High winds with gusts reported up to 57 MPH lashed the area, tossing large tree branches onto the fire ground and creating a treacherous environment for first responders. Near the “heel” of the fire, crews discovered downed power lines, adding an electrical hazard to the already volatile scene and providing insight on what likely started the fire.

After performing a 360-degree assessment of the perimeter, Safety 1 reported that the blaze was flanking a nearby pond and moving dangerously close to several structures to the north.

Command moved quickly to establish a defensive line. Engine 3 was assigned to structure protection directly west of the fire, with Engine 6 and Brush 6 staged just a block away, ready to intercept the flames if they jumped the line. Thanks to the coordinated, aggressive initial attack, crews successfully “caught” the fire, holding the spread to just 2 acres and preventing any property loss.

By the early afternoon, the immediate danger had passed. Once the perimeter was secured and the forward progress halted, officials lifted the evacuation orders and reopened Highway 287 to traffic.

Poudre Valley REA arrived on scene shortly after to inspect and repair the damaged power poles. While the weather conditions were far from favorable, the swift actions of PFA and their partner agencies ensured that a potentially catastrophic afternoon ended with no injuries and all homes intact.

Firefighters were re-dispatched to a rekindle at 15:16PM, Brush 12 arrived and requested an additional brush truck for a 30×30 fire in heavy timber. Larimer County Engine 691, Tender 12, Brush 7 and Battalion 1 were on the re-dispatch. The fire was held under control shortly after and heavy mop-up was completed, smoke will likely remain for a period of time due to the wind.

On The Dispatch:

Poudre Fire Authority: Battalion 1, Battalion 2, OPS01, OPS02, OPS04, Engine 3, Engine 6, Engine 7, Engine 12, Engine 23 (Reserve/Overtime Crew), Brush 4, Brush 6, Brush 7, Brush 8, Brush 12, Tender 12, Safety 1, Special Operations 1 and PIO1

Larimer County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Services: Engine 691, Engine 692, Ocean 1, Ocean 3 and Ocean 4

Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control: Battalion 2211, Overland Module and Multi-Mission Aircraft

United States Forest Service: Battalion Chief 51, Squad 56-A, Squad 56-B, Squad 55 and Engine 651

Larimer County Sheriffs Office

Larimer County Rangers

Colorado State Patrol

Colorado Department of Transportation