Alexander Mountain Fire prompts evacuations in Colorado, Larimer County wildfire quickly grows to 365 acres

Mandatory evacuations are in place in Northern Colorado near the mouth of Big Thompson Canyon in Larimer County due to an approximately 365-acre wildfire named the Alexander Mountain Fire. So far there's no report of any injuries.

The area in question is about 20 miles west of Loveland, and thick smoke was clearly visible Monday afternoon from as far as Fort Collins and Boulder.

The mandatory evacuation zone at 3:30 p.m. included areas to the north and south of Highway 34 through Big Thompson Canyon -- from the town of Drake to the Dam Store west of Loveland's city limits. The northern area stretches west to an area north of but not including Glen Haven and the southern area includes Pinewood Reservoir but not Carter Lake. County Road 18 east from Pole Hill to Pinewood Reservoir is in the evacuation area.

Carter Lake is one of the areas where there are voluntary evacuations. The full description of the voluntary evacuation areas is as follows:

- Waltonia Road
- Eden Valley to Sunrise Ranch
- Sylvan Dale to Ellis Ranch

People were being asked to avoid the area of Highway 34, which was closed in both directions.

Evacuation centers have been set up at Namaqua Elementary School, at 209 North Namaqua Avenue (in Loveland), and the Estes Park Events Complex (in Estes Park), at 1125 Rooftop Way. The evacuation location for animals is The Ranch, at 5290 Arena Circle (in Loveland).

The fire is burning on U.S. Forest Service land and the agency called in several aircraft to work on the fire. Those included four helicopters, one large air tanker and a multi-mission plane. The U.S. Forest Service says an additional helicopter from Wyoming was also en route as of about 2 p.m.

Ground crews from the U.S. Forest Service and Loveland Fire Rescue were among the firefighters who responded to the fire.

Linda Renaud, who lives near Storm Mountain, is within the mandatory evacuation zone.

"We can see the fire from the top of our hill -- we can see the smoke. It doesn't appear to be that close to us but it's hard to judge," she said.

Renaud said she's preparing to evacuate and, having evacuated for the Cameron Peak Fire in 2020, she's prepared for a quick exit.

"Don't have everything all gathered, but I'm about to throw a few things in a suitcase and put the pets in the car," she said. "We've got some friends that can probably put us up."

A map of the evacuation zone can be seen here:

For live updates from the county, you can text LCEVAC to 888777.

CBS News also has an interactive wildfire map that shows wildfires across the U.S. You can find that here.