Mandatory evacuations went into effect Monday afternoon for the Sedona Hills subdivision north of Carter Lake after a vegetation fire began chewing toward the foothills. Residents in the zone were told to clear out immediately, grab pets and essential documents, and head to a designated staging site. Officials also set up a reception point to help both families and animals forced out by the flames.
An active alert posted around 4:05 p.m. turned the evacuation into a “you-have-to-go-now” order and directed people to Jax Mercantile at Wilson Avenue and Highway 34. The message pulled no punches, reading in part, "EVACUATION IS MANDATORY — LEAVE IMMEDIATELY TO ENSURE YOUR SAFETY." It also urged residents to text LCEVAC to 888777 for ongoing incident updates and to check the online evacuation map for the exact boundary, according to the Larimer Emergency Telephone Authority.
Evacuation map and staging area
Officials are steering residents to NOCO Alert for an interactive map that lays out the evacuation perimeter and nearby road closures. Online notices list Jax Mercantile at the Wilson and Highway 34 intersection as the main staging point for people leaving the Sedona Hills neighborhood. Authorities are asking evacuees to follow the mapping tools and staging instructions closely to avoid blocked roads and keep traffic flowing into the reception area.
How to get official updates
Larimer County’s Office of Emergency Management offers detailed guidance on what to do during wildfire evacuations and maintains an emergency information line for the county. The agency also explains how to sign up for text and push alerts so residents hear quickly if their address falls inside a warning or evacuation zone. For countywide resources and registration details, see the Larimer County Office of Emergency Management.
What people on the ground reported
Social media posts from nearby residents and local incident feeds showed smoke building near Sedona Hills, along with early chatter that the fire footprint might be a few dozen acres. Several users said they spotted air tankers and helicopters working the blaze. All of that is still preliminary and has not been independently confirmed by Larimer County officials at the time of publication. According to official notices, local updates from incident commanders and county agencies will guide re-entry and recovery once responders finish their damage assessment and containment work.
This story will be updated as incident commanders and Larimer County release new details. For the latest official alerts and the current evacuation map, check the Larimer Emergency Telephone Authority active alert and NOCO Alert.
