As hundreds of firefighters battle to contain the Alexander Mountain fire, officials are working behind the scenes on the process to return thousands of residents who have evacuated back to their homes.

Some won’t have homes to return to.

As of Monday morning, the Alexander Mountain fire, burning west of Loveland, has scorched 9,668 acres and is 54% contained.

The blaze has destroyed 26 homes, damaged four others, and destroyed 21 outbuildings, mostly structures in the Storm Mountain and Cedar Park areas.

“We are profoundly sorry for the loss and heartache experienced by those who have lost their homes in this wildfire,” Larimer County Sheriff John Feyen said in a statement. “Our hearts go out to every individual and family affected by this tragedy.”

Authorities launched a credentialing system to allow them to begin returning home exactly a week after thousands left their homes.

 Credentials can be obtained from two locations:

• Larimer County Loveland Campus at 200 Peridot Ave. in Loveland

• Estes Park Event Center at 1125 Rooftop Way in Estes Park.

Each location is open on Monday and Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. More information can be found on Larimer County’s website.

“Please know that we are here for you, offering our full support and resources to help you through this difficult time,” Feyen said.

Meanwhile, many have begun to set up fundraisers for the people affected by the Alexander Mountain Fire.

A GoFundMe page said a family of three lost everything in their home.

The online fundraiser said Jon Shepard, his partner Haley, their 3-year-old child Wade, and their 10-year-old dog Red found out on July 31 that their house on Palisade Mountain in Drake burned down.

“This young, hard-working family needs our help,” the GoFundMe page said. “They need to replace clothing, toys, furniture, food, income … everything for at least the next six months while they sort through and rebuild the life that they have made together.”

Lisa McNellis, who started a fundraiser for her uncle, Rick Wood, described his house burning down as “a massive blow to my uncle’s life.”

Another GoFundMe page, set up by friends of a Storm Mountain family, said a man, his wife and their four dogs evacuated, and that “they have never been through something like this and every little bit will help.”

“They are good, hard-working people that have been blindsided by this fire and lost everything in a matter of days,” the fundraising site said. 

Efforts to contain the Alexander Mountain fire continued on Monday, while officials are reaching out to those affected.

“Larimer County Sheriff John Feyen and the Larimer County Office of Emergency Management have contacted all property owners with known and assessed damage to their property,” officials said in a statement. “If you did not receive a phone call regarding damage, there is no known damage to your property at the time of this release.”

As of noon Monday, residents in the Big Thompson Canyon up to Idlewild Lane can return to their homes, though that’s dependent on power being successfully restored, officials said.

Larimer County Commissioner John Kefalas said a main focus is to assist residents most affected by the fire.

“We remain focused on helping and supporting the folks who have been directly impacted by the fire — having their homes and properties destroyed or damaged, and those community members who have been evacuated,” he said.

The county commissioner added: “As evacuation orders are lifted, we are helping folks return to their homes and working closely to assess damage and destruction and provide information and resources to help with rebuilding their lives and livelihoods.”