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Dry Conditions Persist, Increase Fern Lake Fire Activity

Dennis Geving
/
NPS

Gusty winds and low humidity have kicked up activity on a fire burning since Oct. 9 in Rocky Mountain National Park.

The fire’s incident commander has ordered more resources to fight the blaze, including a heli-tanker to drop water on the Spruce Creek area.

An update on the park's Facebook page Tuesday stated that the fire has "spotted across Spruce Creek to the southern side."

Besides increasing fire activity, strong winds gusting to almost 40 mph are also pushing smoke into parts of the Front Range, including the Highway 66 corridor.

Efforts to fight the Fern Lake Fire, which is located west of Estes Park, are being hampered by steep, rugged terrain with a large number of beetle-kill trees. The fire is listed at 1,370 acres and is 40 percent contained. The park is still open, although trails in and around the area are closed.

Dry conditions continue around the state, a quick check of the Fire Forecast Map shows high fire danger around Estes park and in other areas of Colorado.

As the host of KUNC’s new program and podcast In the NoCo, I work closely with our producers and reporters to bring context and diverse perspectives to the important issues of the day. Northern Colorado is such a diverse and growing region, brimming with history, culture, music, education, civic engagement, and amazing outdoor recreation. I love finding the stories and voices that reflect what makes NoCo such an extraordinary place to live.
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