Rocky Mountain National Park Completes Prescribed Burn

11/2
Ignitions on the Headquarters Unit of the Front Country Prescribed Fire have been successfully completed, with approximately 100 acres treated during the past two days.

Crews were successful in introducing low-to-moderate intensity fire on the landscape and have removed fuels, including grasses and low shrubs. Another goal of this prescribed fire was to raise the bottoms of the canopies of trees and to increase crown spacing within the fire area.

To do this, some low branches on trees may burn in addition to the grasses and nearby brush. Raising the “crown base height” of trees decreases the likelihood that a future wildfire would move into the canopies of the trees. This work will help serve as a fuel break against potential future wildfires.

Fire crews will remain on site overnight. Visibility along U.S. Highway 36 has improved and smoke will continue to linger. U.S. Highway 36 inside Rocky Mountain National Park has reopened in both directions.

Fire Managers at Rocky Mountain National Park would like to thank all of the personnel involved in this operation over the past two days. Numerous cooperators, including federal, state, and local partners have been working with NPS staff in a variety of roles to ensure the safety of both firefighters and the visiting public.

The attached map shows the 334-acre Headquarters Unit of the front country prescribed fire at Rocky Mountain National Park. Firefighters are preparing to complete a 100-acre section of this unit beginning Friday, November 1, 2024

Morning Briefing for Front Country Prescribed Fire, November 1 2024, Courtesy RMNP

Prescribed Fire Operations, November 2, Courtesy RMNP

Fire crews working on Front Country Prescribed Fire in RMNP, 11.2.2024, Courtesy RMNP

Fire crews with ignition operations for prescribed fire in RMNP on 11.2.2024, Courtesy RMNP

Fire crew with ignitions Front Country Prescribed Fire, November 1, 2024, Courtesy RMNP

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11/2
​Rocky Mountain National Park's Front Country Prescribed Fire operations continue today due to favorable conditions. 

Approximately 50 firefighters representing several cooperating agencies are part of today’s operations. 

Visitors traveling to the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park are encouraged to use Fall River Entrance via U.S. Highway 34 when entering and exiting the park. Expect traffic delays and smoke on the roadway along U.S. Highway 36 inside RMNP. 

Currently, U.S. Highway 36 is open to west-bound traffic only from Beaver Meadows VC to Beaver Meadows Entrance. Motorists are encouraged to use caution when driving on U.S. Highway 36 between the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and Bear Lake Road due to smoke, visibility and fire crews working along the road.  To exit RMNP on the east side of the park, visitors are directed to use Fall River Entrance/U.S. Highway 34 to return to Estes Park. 
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In person fire information will be available at Beaver Meadows Visitor Center until 4:30 p.m.

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11/1
​Weather and fuels conditions remained favorable today for Rocky Mountain National Park's Front Country Prescribed Fire.  NPS fire managers are being supported by numerous other fire resources.

Visitors traveling on U.S. Highway 36 near Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and Beaver Meadows Entrance experienced minor delays and smoke.  
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Firefighters completed ignitions at approximately 4:15 p.m. Crews remain in the field and will monitor the units that were burned overnight. Smoke was light to moderate through most of the day and dispersal went as anticipated. With cooler temperatures in the evening, smoke may linger and accumulate in low-lying areas. Firefighters are planning to continue with the prescribed fire tomorrow, if conditions allow. 

Stay tuned on Rocky's official social media channels and Inciweb (https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/cormp-front-country-prescribed-fire) tomorrow for additional updates. 

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10/30
​​     Based upon the arrival of cool weather and the amount of precipitation in the extended weather forecast, fire managers at Rocky Mountain National Park are preparing to conduct a prescribed burn if favorable weather and fuel conditions allow. Fire managers may burn up to a 300-acre area.  This would take place west of the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and south of U.S. Highway 36.  Burning operations would be conducted over several days to limit daily smoke production.  
 
    The primary goal of the project is to reduce the threat of wildland fire to adjacent communities and park infrastructure by using prescribed fire to reduce the amount of fuel available in this area. When fighting the East Troublesome Fire in 2020 and the Fern Lake Fire in 2012, firefighters were able to take advantage of previous and existing prescribed fire and hazardous fuels treatment areas that provided a buffer between the fire and the town of Estes Park. Prior hazard fuels projects were instrumental in stopping the fire from jumping Bear Lake Road and Trail Ridge Road.
 
     Depending on when and if weather and fuel conditions are suitable, prescribed burning operations may begin late October or any time through the winter. Ignitions will likely occur on weekdays with smoldering and smoke emissions lasting for an additional 3-10 days. If burning operations take place, traffic control will be in place on U.S. Highway 36 within the burn area.
 
     Smoke may be visible both inside and outside the park.  Every effort will be made to minimize smoke impacts on visitors and the adjacent community; however, some smoke is anticipated to disperse east of the park.  Smoke may affect your health: For more information see https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health. No trail or road closures are anticipated but visitors passing through active burning areas may be escorted by fire personnel to ensure their safety.
 
    For the safety of visitors and firefighters, park visitors will not be allowed to stop along U.S. Highway 36 within the burn area. Visitors will also not be able to walk within the burn area.
 
     Safety factors, weather conditions, air quality, personnel availability and environmental regulations are continually monitored as a part of any fire management operation.  For more information please contact the park’s Information Office at (970) 586-1206.

Prescribed Burn Near Beaver Meadows Entrance October 2018, NPS Photo

Smoke near Beaver Meadows Visitor Center during prescribed burn 2018, NPS Photo

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