The Incident Management Team fighting the Fern Lake Fire is very grateful for the generosity and support of the Estes Valley community. We have received many cards, letters, cookies, and offers of food, water, clothing and cash. Unfortunately due to regulations and the fact that these firefighters are mobile and fully supported with everything they need, we are not able to accept this generosity. However, w ...

FERN LAKE FIRE UPDATE YESTERDAY'S EVENTS Yesterday evening management of the fire was scaled down from a Type 3 to a Type 4 Rocky Mountain National Park organization, reflecting a less complex fire with reduced fire behavior. The Incident Command Post and all other functions have also moved back into the park. Firefighters did not conduct any direct suppression activities on the fire yesterday due to safety ...

TENTATIVE RE-ENTRY PLANS 12/03/2012 6:00 p.m. Sheriff Justin Smith and Fern Lake Fire managers announced Monday evening that tentative plans are being made to allow some residents from the Highway 66 evacuation area to return home on Wednesday morning, December 5 at 9:00 a.m. Officials hope to open the Highway 66 evacuation area from Highway 36 up to and including Aspen Brook Drive. This area would be place ...

  FIRE UPDATE for 11/30/2012 at 6:00 p.m. Activity increases on the Fern Lake Fire; High wind warning for tonight Firefighters have been moved off the fireline due to the risk of falling trees from high winds. In addition, helicopters have been grounded because of the increased wind speed. A high wind warning is in effect from midnight until 11 a.m. tomorrow for 25-45 mph west winds with gusts around 7 ...

As expected with current dry conditions, the Fern Lake Fire in Rocky Mountain National Park continues to smolder in a remote area of the park. A few smokes showed on the east side of the fire yesterday and there was drift smoke in Forest Canyon seen from The Pool. Due to calmer winds yesterday, a crew of eight fire fighters mopped up some smoldering duff on the eastern edge of the fire. With continued dryin ...