Two small fires are burning inside Rocky Mountain National Park in remote locations. One fire has been confirmed burning near Mirror Lake in the northern section of the park. A second fire is burning in the Forest Canyon area below Trail Ridge Road between Rock Cut and Forest Canyon overlook. Trail Ridge Road remains open, unless fire conditions change. Upper Beaver Meadows Road will be closed, due to the potential of aviation operations tomorrow.
Aerial resources have flown the areas to determine best fire management tactics. The Mirror Fire is burning near treeline in mostly spruce fir forest. The Forest Canyon Fire is burning in lodgepole. The initial size up of the Mirror Fire is one/tenth of an acre. The Forest Canyon Fire is approximately 3 to 5 acres. Both fires have more than 50 percent of the forest stand killed by recent insect outbreaks.
Firefighters will hike into the Forest Canyon Fire this morning for initial attack using hand crews and available aviation assets. A small crew and helicopter from Mesa Verde National Park will help to begin suppressing the Mirror Fire tomorrow.
Trail closures are in place for the Mirror Lake Trail, from the junction with the Mummy Pass Trail northbound to Mirror Lake. The Comanche Peak trail is closed from the park boundary southbound to Mirror Lake. Wilderness campsite closures include the Mirror Lake site and the Koenig stock site. Reservations for these backcountry sites are canceled until further notice.
The cause of the fires have not yet been determined. However, a thunderstorm with lightning moved through the Forest Canyon area yesterday afternoon.
Jeff
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