On the northern front of the Cameron Peak Fire, Colo. 14 reopened to traffic Saturday, but the spot fire in Rocky Mountain National Park from the East Troublesome Fire went on the move, prompting additional evacuations from the Estes Park area early Saturday.
Winds over 60 mph pushed the fire in the national park, according to fire officials, though Cameron Peak Fire operations sections chief Paul Delmerico said firefighters “did a heck of a job” to try to control it.
Cameron Peak firefighters took command of what is being called the Thompson Zone of the East Troublesome Fire, a spot fire that moved from Grand County and over the Continental Divide to become established in Rocky Mountain National Park, prompting evacuations in the Estes Park area Thursday.
Delmerico said the fire picked up due to winds after midnight, and moved about two and half miles to just west of the YMCA of the Rockies and Bear Lake area.
By noon the spot fire split into two fingers with one moving northeast along the Big Thompson River and one east along Mill Creek.
At 4:30 p.m. Cameron Peak officials reported the fire in the national park was continuing to push to the east, but was still west of Bear Lake Road.
In an evening update, Delmerico said the spot fire ran to the southeast and northeast, but firefighters, aided by fuel reduction work done in the national park, prevented it from moving further. Crews held one section just north of Moraine Park.
He said Saturday evening light precipitation was falling in the fire area. “So far, so good. We’ve still got a fire fight in there.”
In a statement shared on Facebook, Estes Park Town Administrator Travis Machalek said essential personnel remained in town to support fire operations, monitor infrastructure and patrol the community.
He said the town’s water, power and fiber optic systems remained safe and stable. Electricity has been turned off on the west side of the town, and natural gas off along the Spur 66 road. “Believe me, it will be a high priority to restore these utilities as soon as it is safe to do so, especially given the impending winter weather and cold temperatures,” Machalek said.
“At this point, we’re all going to have to take this one day at a time,” he told evacuated residents.
On the Cameron Peak Fire, Delmerico reported fire activity increased Saturday near Comanche Reservoir, and the fire slopped south of the North Fork Trail about a mile and a half, burning about 700 more acres, but the fire did not cross County Road 43.
Helicopters were able to fly and make water drops in the area, which slowed the spread.
“We did have a concern — is the fire making a run toward Glen Haven?,” he said, adding the fire was two miles west of Glen Haven Saturday evening, and a light rain-snow mix was falling in the area.
Delmerico reported no issues elsewhere on the Cameron Peak Fire.
Cameron Peak Fire officials lifted evacuations Saturday morning for all of Redstone Canyon and Otter Road, Colo. 14 from Kelly Flats to the Larimer/Jackson County line, Colo. 14 north to County Road 86, County Road 103 north to the Tunnel Campground, and Old Roach (from the Mullen Fire), and the Colorado Department of Transportation reopened Colo. 14 between Fort Collins and Walden. Officials urged drivers to only use the route if necessary..
As of 7 p.m. Saturday the size of the Cameron Peak Fire was reported at 207,464 acres with 60% containment. The Thompson Zone area of the fire in Rocky Mountain National Park was listed at 1,792 acres and no containment Saturday morning.
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East Troublesome Fire pushes further into Rocky Mountain National Park - Loveland Reporter-Herald
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