The Colorado Department of Transportation closed portions of Highway 34 in Big Thompson Canyon on Friday to allow residents affected by the Cameron Peak Fire to evacuate.

The closure to through-traffic is from Mall Road in Estes Park to extends to the Dam Store, 10 miles west of Loveland.

Local access will still be allowed, but officials are advising anyone traveling to Estes Park to use Highway 36.

“We ask that anyone who does not need to be on or around this area, stay away,” CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew said. “There are a lot of people who need to get out of this area safely as this fire has escalated very quickly.

“Our main priority right now is on the safety of the residents, businesses and the crews and other fire responders bravely battling this fire.”

Evacuations have been ordered over the past several days for Lory State Park, Glen Haven, Bobcat Ridge Natural Area, Horsetooth Mountain Park and more.

As of Friday afternoon, the Cameron Peak Fire has engulfed more than 169,000 acres and on Wednesday evening, it became the largest fire in the state’s recorded history.

Currently, 1,119 firefighters from more than 10 agencies — including the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, the Colorado National Guard, Poudre Canyon, Glacier View, Crystal Lakes, Red Feather Lakes, and Estes Fire Departments — are assisting in containing the fire, said Cass Cairns, a public information officer for the Cameron Peak Fire media team.