Poudre Fire Authority Extinguishes Quarter-Acre Brush Fire Along Poudre River Trail

Poudre Fire Authority crews contained a quarter-acre brush fire along the Poudre River Trail near the intersection of Vine Drive and College Avenue during the early morning hours of November 13, requiring a second alarm response to access the difficult terrain and extinguish the blaze.

Engine 1 was dispatched shortly after 5 a.m. to reports of a brush fire and arrived to find a slow-moving fire in a location challenging for firefighters to reach. The incident commander upgraded the call to a second alarm, bringing two additional brush units, a water tender and a battalion chief to the scene.

Crews brought the fire under control by 5:50 a.m. and spent an additional half hour mopping up hot spots to prevent rekindling. No injuries or property damage were reported.

Second Alarm Ensures Adequate Resources for Complex Response

Poudre Fire Authority escalates to a second alarm when incident commanders determine initial resources are insufficient to safely control a fire. The upgrade typically doubles staffing by dispatching additional engines, specialized wildland apparatus and command personnel from surrounding stations.

Second alarm criteria include fire spread beyond the initial area, limited access, or adverse conditions such as wind or proximity to structures. The additional resources allow fire departments to establish safety teams and systematically address suppression challenges while maintaining firefighter safety protocols.

The Vine and College area represents a high-risk urban-interface zone where combustible vegetation meets neighborhoods and public access points, according to Poudre Fire Authority's Community Wildfire Protection Plan. Response times in urban areas of Fort Collins consistently average under eight minutes for first-alarm wildland calls.

Fire Danger Remains Elevated Despite Seasonal Transition

The fire occurred during a period when Larimer County's fire danger rating remains high, based on interagency fire management assessments. While no county-wide restrictions are currently in effect, the combination of cured grasses, below-average precipitation and occasional windy conditions creates an environment where fires can ignite and spread rapidly.

The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for portions of Larimer and Weld Counties on November 6 as wind gusts reached 55 mph and critically dry conditions persisted through the afternoon. Such weather events underscore the ongoing fire risk even as temperatures cool.

Dry fall conditions in Northern Colorado are defined by precipitation significantly below historical November averages, fine dead fuel moisture content dropping below 7 to 10 percent, and frequent windy periods with low humidity, according to fire management data. These factors increase brush and grassland fire danger, particularly in wildland-urban interface areas.

Human Activities Drive Majority of Trail Corridor Fires

Over 80 percent of brush and grass fires along the Poudre River Trail and similar riparian corridors result from preventable human activities, according to incident reviews. The most common ignition sources include discarded smoking materials, unattended campfires, debris burning without proper permits, equipment sparks and intentional arson.

Poudre Fire Authority implements educational signage at trailheads, community outreach programs and partnerships with local media to highlight fire risks and responsible behaviors. The agency coordinates with the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment to enforce burn permit regulations, with violations potentially resulting in fines up to $10,000 per day.

Open flames including campfires, charcoal grills and fireworks are generally banned along the Poudre River Trail except in designated developed picnic areas with built-in fire containment systems.

Poudre Fire Authority serves approximately 235 square miles across Fort Collins, Timnath, LaPorte, Bellvue and surrounding areas in Larimer and Weld counties. The authority operates 13 fire stations and employs 248 full-time staff including 207 uniformed firefighters.

The agency reminded residents to exercise caution with any activity that could cause a wildfire during the ongoing dry fall conditions. Residents can check current fire restrictions at Larimer County's interactive fire danger map or contact Poudre Fire Authority at 970-226-0800.