Light rain and snow this weekend over Colorado’s high country wasn’t enough to extinguish a wildfire burning in Rocky Mountain National Park, but it did help firefighters get a handle on the blaze.
Update: Ongoing coverage of the Fern Lake Fire can be found here.
The Fern Lake fire now covers 673 acres and is 30 percent contained. The fire has been burning since Tuesday, Oct. 9 about three miles west of Estes Park.
The blaze is burning in rugged terrain with large areas of beetle-killed trees.
No structures are threatened at this time. There are 98 people currently assigned to the Fern Lake Fire. A National Incident Management Organization (NIMO) Team took over command Friday. The Coloradoan reports some personnel are being released as containment grows.
Investigators with the National Park Service are seeking information about how the fire started. Anyone with information is asked to call 970-586-1399.
Here is an updated list of closures:
Upper Beaver Meadows Road and Moraine Park Campground are closed.
Bear Lake Road has reopened; however Fern Lake Road is still closed.
All park trails and areas accessed from north and west (right side) of Bear Lake Road remain closed, including the Cub Lake Trail, the Fern Lake Trail, Hollowell Park Trail, Bierstadt Trail, Bear Lake to Fern Lake Trail, as are trails south of Trail Ridge Road including Ute Trail. Flattop Trail is open, but access is closed to Fern Lake and Bierstadt trails.
Hikers may still access Nymph, Emerald and Dream lakes. Trail Ridge Road is temporarily closed at Many Parks Curve on the east side and Colorado River Trailhead on the west side.
You can follow Erin O'Toole on Twitter: @erinotoole1
