Firefighters Continue to Closely Monitor the Fern Lake Fire as High Winds Continue

Date: October 17, 2012
Contact: Julie Johndreau, 970-586-1363

High winds will continue across northeastern Colorado and the Fern Lake Fire today. Firefighters are closely monitoring and patrolling the fire to watch for any potential growth. Despite yesterday's high winds, fire activity remains low with smoldering, creeping and some open flame observed. The fire continues to be managed with a full suppression strategy.

Firefighters will continue to closely assess the situation today. There is a contingency fire line in place so that fire managers are prepared to take quick action to ensure firefighter and visitor safety and to keep the fire within park boundaries. If necessary, firefighters can conduct a burn-out operation between the contingency line in Upper Beaver Meadow and the active fire.

An area closure is still in effect. Upper Beaver Meadows Road and Moraine Park Campground are closed. Bear Lake Road has reopened, but Fern Lake Road remains closed. To ensure visitor safety and to protect park resources, all trails and areas accessed from north and west (right side) of Bear Lake Road remain closed, including the Cub Lake Trail, Fern Lake Trail, Hollowell Park Trail, Bierstadt Trail, Bear Lake to Fern Lake Trail, and all 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. Snow drifts have temporarily closed Trail Ridge Road at Many Parks Curve on the east side and Colorado River Trailhead on the west side. Due to fire conditions at Rocky Mountain National Park, smoking and open fires in the park's backcountry are prohibited.

Additional information about this fire can be found at www.inciweb.org, or by calling [phone]. New information will be released as it becomes available. Photos of the fire can be viewed and downloaded at http://goo.gl/TrhaK.