FORT COLLINS, Colo. — March 12, 2026

Poudre Fire Authority (PFA), Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, and partners responded to a second-alarm wildfire north of Fort Collins today that threatened nearby structures, prompted a mandatory evacuation, and burned approximately one acre.

Crews were dispatched at 11:30 a.m. to the 400 block of N. Highway 287 near Sterry Lane. Initial calls to 911 reported seeing flames reaching 40 to 50 ft. high. The fire was spreading aggressively through heavy brush and timber toward a nearby residential area, which was the primary concern for responding firefighters.

Due to the potential threat to homes and high winds, the incident commander upgraded the call to a second alarm fire which dispatched more resources. Crews were working against nearly 90 mph winds, which is close to the speed during the Marshall Fire in 2021.

Firefighters worked to slow the fire’s progress and protect structures despite the extreme wind conditions and hazards in the area. Large limbs breaking from trees and debris created additional safety concerns for personnel.

The NoCo Alert system was used to send out a mandatory evacuation notification to 2,401 contacts (registered devices) in the area. At 12:37 p.m., the fire was declared controlled, and the evacuation order was lifted.

“They made one heck of a stop; the crews worked hard. I’m very proud of them,” said PFA Incident Commander Chris Hill.

Crews began mop-up operations using hand tools to locate and extinguish hot spots, cutting back dry vegetation, and spraying water on nearby trees to reduce the risk of rekindle.

No injuries were reported and all structures that were threatened by the fire were saved.

Strong winds remain a concern. Forecasts indicate similar conditions may continue until about 7 p.m., with sustained winds of 50–60 mph possible through Saturday, increasing the potential for rekindles and fire in general.

“We will have a crew on the fire throughout the night due to the winds,” said Incident Commander Hill.

The cause of the Sterry Fire is under investigation.

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