The Sugarloaf Fire that started in Medicine Bow National Forest in northern Albany County this week has grown another 100 acres, fire command officials announced on Thursday.
The fire was estimated to have reached around 510 acres in the forest.
Some of the fire’s growth is due to the fire’s activity, but some can be attributed to a better map of the blaze fire crews put together through an overnight infrared flight.
Around 260 crew members were working to combat the fire as of Thursday.
On Thursday, crews spent the day extending a fire hose handline and using bulldozers to improve the road that extends from the east side of the fire. They also cleared vegetation on the west side of the fire.
Another team of firefighters kept watch on the properties in northern Albany County that were evacuated earlier this week. About 10 residences were cleared on Monday. The evacuation notice was still in place as of Thursday.
The fire had not been contained as of late Thursday.
On Wednesday, minimal fire activity allowed firefighters to establish a fire hose handline along the northern edge of the fire and a crew in a helicopter spent the day dropping water on pockets of fire.
The Sugarloaf Fire is believed to have been started around noon on Monday. Investigators believe it is human caused, but a fire command team spokesman on Wednesday could not speak to the reasons why investigators came to this conclusion.
The fire started near the Cow Creek Trailhead in the forest and is burning about seven miles southwest of Laramie Peak.
The fire is burning in rocky, steep terrain, making firefighting efforts more difficult.
Fire officials did not immediately return Cowboy State Daily’s request for comment on Thursday.
