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Fern Lake Fire Still Burning In Rocky Mountain National Park

NPS

Smoke from the Fern Lake Fire, located on the eastern side of Rocky Mountain National Park continues to be seen Friday morning. The fire remains at zero percent containment and stands at 660 acres.

According to inciweb.org the smoke is likely due to the fire burning into a stand of trees or ‘deadfall.’

As of Friday morning, a National Incident Management Team (NIMO) has taken over management of the fire. They’re expecting a significant change in the weather including the potential for snowfall and strong winds.

The plan for Friday, according to the NIMO, includes maintaining a ‘contingency fire line in the upper Beaver Meadows area.’ That would be used as a potential fire line to stop the blaze from spreading north and east. Use of the contingency line would only occur if the fire builds into the Windy Gap and Beaver Mountain areas.

Credit Ann Schonlau / NPS
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NPS
Picture of Helitanker 793, taken on October 11th

More than 90 fire personal, seven fire engines, and one heavy heli-tanker are working the fire ‘north of Glacier creek, west of Hollowell Park, and south of Trail Ridge Road.’

Bear Lake Road, Upper Beaver Meadows Road and Moraine Park Campground remain closed. All park trails accessed from Bear Lake Road and Highway 66 have also been closed, as are trails south of Trail Ridge Road including the Ute Trail. However, Trail Ridge Road remains open.

The park has also prohibited smoking and open fires in the park’s backcountry.

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