The Big Meadows Fire is burning to the west of Rocky Mountain National Park. No structures are threatened at this time.
Editor's Note: This post collects our updates on the Big Meadows Fire from Wednesday. Up to date information for Thursday can be found at this post.
Update 12:30 p.m. - Trails will remain closed again today as firefighters work to contain the blaze. The size is estimated at 400 acres, but officials expect that number to grow with wind gusts up to 20 mph in the forecast.
Today’s plan is to hold the fire east of Trail Ridge Road and north of Tonahutu Creek. No structures are in danger at this point. There is no report on containment. Smoke is expected to visible in Estes Park and other parts of the Northern Front Range. State health officials are warning that if smoke becomes thick, people should remain indoors.
9 a.m. After a day of low humidity and heat, a wildfire in Rocky Mountain National Park has grown to about 300 to 400 acres. The Big Meadows Fire continues to burn in a remote area on the west side of the park after starting on Monday. Officials reported in a Tuesday evening update that no structures or communities are threatened at this time.
The park has a Type I team on order, which is expected to transition Thursday morning. Officials have ordered additional ground and air resources including three additional helicopters and five additional type 1 crews. Right now a Boise Smokejumper Type II Team is managing the fire.
While all park roads remain open, there are five trails temporarily closed. Those include: the Onahu Trail, the Green Mountain Trail, the lower Tonahutu Trail, the Tonahutu Spur Trail and the Grand Lake Lodge Spur Trail.
Rocky Mountain National Park has set up an information hotline for the fire at 970-586-1381. An update is expected at 11:30 a.m.
