|
Contact: Kyle Patterson, 970-586-1363
Beginning Tuesday, September 28, fire managers plan to take advantage of ideal weather conditions to burn out fuels to widen the containment lines on portions of the Cow Creek Fire in Rocky Mountain National Park. Similar operations were attempted in early September, but short-duration rains halted burning. Firefighters will set fire inside a containment line to consume fuel between the edge of the fire and the containment line. A wider blackened line will reduce the threat of further fire spread to the northeast. Visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park, and residents of Estes Park, Glen Haven and surrounding areas, can expect to see increased smoke, beginning Tuesday afternoon. Fire activity normally increases in the afternoon, providing optimal conditions for a burnout. The Cow Creek Fire is burning in a rugged and remote area of the park, about seven miles northwest of Estes Park. The lightning-ignited fire was discovered on June 24. Suppression actions were immediately taken on the eastern portions of the fire, when it threatened to move out of the park. The fire is currently being managed to allow burning on the western flank, fulfilling the objective of allowing fire to play its natural role in the ecosystem. Firefighters and fire monitors are currently staffing the fire, observing it daily, mapping growth, and taking weather observations. For more information, please contact the park's Information Office at 970-586-1206. |
Last updated: February 24, 2015