Fires on the west side of the contential divide have closed Rocky Mountain National Park.
In a Facebook post this morning, Rocky Mountain National Park announced that the fire on the west side of the divide is a "rapidly evolving situation," closing Trail Ridge Rd. Crew members there also state that the air quality in the park is considered hazardous.
From the east, the Cameron Peak Fire moved into the park on Sept. 6. According to the Rocky Mountain National Park website, the fire has encompassed approzimately 7,050 acres.
The CalWood and Lefthand Canyon fires burned throught the night, however crews were able to increase containment, according to a Facebook post by Troy Hagan, incident commander of the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team.
The CalWood Fire has burned 10,073 acres and is 24% contained, reports Boulder Office of Emergency Management, or Boulder OEM, early this morning. Prior to winds increasing, crews were assisted by aircraft which assisted in holding the firelines.
Crews on the southside of the fire conducted a successful tactical burn yesterday, saving structures in the area of Balarat Education Center, stated Hagan's Facebook post.
Overnight, despite high winds, crews were able to hold the fire at minimal growth, Hagan said.
The post also said crews are currently working to keep the fire contain the fire south of Hwy 7.
Boulder OEM also announced that the Lefthand Canyon fire is now "460 acres and 43% contained. The majority of that containment is on the southern side of the fire area."
Hagan said, that no new growth on the Lefthand Canyon fire was recorded after midday yesterday. Today, crews will continue efforts to improve containment lines.
The weather is cooperating with fire efforts as a cold front settled over the fire areas early this morning, dropping temperatures below freezing after sunset.
"The changing weather conditions are also expected to temper fire activity today," Hagan said.
Boulder County Sheriff's Office issued an evacuation order for Lyons Park Estates on Wednesday. All other evacuatetion orders and warning remain in place, according to Hagan's post. Boulder OEM is asking that the areas be avoided until further notice.
An Air Quality Action Day Alert for the Colorado Front Range has been issued by the Colorado Deparment of Public Health and Environment until at least 4 p.m. due to the moderate to heavy smoke from these fires.
UPDATE 2 p.m.
Boulder OEM reports that "operations are going well on both the Lefthand Canyon and CalWood fires so far today. The cooler, more humid weather has lessened fire activity across both fires."
Hwy 36 is now closed from Apple Valley Rd to Estes Park. Hwy 7 also is closed at the county line heading north. However, some evacuation restrictions have been modified.
Residents of Mountain Ridge and Lake of the Pines subdivisions and Foothills Ranch Drive have access to their property until 6 p.m. tonight. Residents of Crestview subdivision are permanently allowed back on their properties.
Boulder OEM states, "evacuation orders will be evaluated on a day-by-day basis. Those granted reentry are asked to remain on alert and be ready to evacuate again should conditions change and public safety again be threatened."
