Smoke from a prescribed burn in Rocky Mountain National Park on Wednesday could be seen in the Park and throughout the Estes Valley. The operation is expected to continue today to complete the 294-acre Front Country Prescribed Fire. Credit: Courtesy/Tim Orel

If conditions permit, fire managers at Rocky Mountain National Park will complete a 294-acre Front Country Prescribed Fire this morning.

Yesterday, firefighters completed 230 acres of the operation. Overnight, firefighters patrolled the burn area.

Firefighters, including members of the Estes Valley Fire Protection District, listened to a briefing in preparation for yesterday’s Front Country Prescribed Fire. The operation will continue today. Credit: Courtesy/Rocky Mountain National Park

The road closure inside Rocky Mountain National Park on U.S. Highway 36, from the Bear Lake Road Junction to the Deer Ridge Junction, will remain in effect this morning for the planned ignition and additional mop-up operations.

Road closures related to the Front Country Prescribed Fire are seen in red on the map. The operation is expected to conclude today. Credit: Courtesy/Rocky Mountain National Park

This burn area is located inside Rocky Mountain National Park, west of the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and near Upper Beaver Meadows Road. Due to the burn, U.S. 36/Trail Ridge will be closed between Bear Lake Road and Deer Mountain Junction. The Beaver Meadows Entrance and Bear Lake Road will remain open.

The primary goal of the project is to reduce the threat of wildland fire to adjacent communities and NPS infrastructure by using prescribed fire to reduce the amount of fuels available in this area.

Due to the type of fuel that will be burned, which primarily consists of grasses and small shrubs, heavy and prolonged smoke is not expected from this operation. 

However, as was the case yesterday, smoke may be visible both inside and outside the park. According to RMNP, every effort will be made to minimize the impact of smoke. Some smoke is anticipated to disperse east of the park.

Smoke may affect your health: For more information, click here.

Additional information may be shared on InciWeb, on the National Park Service’s Rocky Mountain National Park website, and on Rocky Mountain National Park’s official social media channels. For more information, please contact the park’s Information Office at 970-586-1206.