NPS - National Park Service
10/26/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/26/2026 17:21
Rocky Mountain National Park Prepares for Possible Prescribed Burn
News Release Date: October 26, 2026
Contact: Information Office, (970) 586-1206
Rocky Mountain National Park and the U.S. Wildland Fire Service are preparing to conduct a prescribed fire on the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park when favorable weather and fuel conditions allow.
A 437-acre area within the Eagle Cliff Unit and portions of the Headquarters Unit will be treated to reduce hazardous fuels. The treatment area is located between the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and Bear Lake Road and includes areas south of High Drive. Burning operations will be conducted over several days to limit daily smoke production. The primary goal of the project is to mitigate the threat of wildland fire to nearby communities and park infrastructure. The prescribed burn will reduce grasses, light fuels and understory to decrease future wildfire risk.
When fighting the East Troublesome Fire in 2020 and the Fern Lake Fire in 2012, firefighters took advantage of previous and existing prescribed fire and hazardous fuels treatment areas, which provided a buffer between the fire and the town of Estes Park. Prior hazard fuels projects were instrumental in keeping the fire from jumping Bear Lake Road and Trail Ridge Road.
Prescribed burning operations may begin late October or any time through the winter when conditions are favorable. Ignitions will likely occur on weekdays, with smoke possible for an additional 3-10 days as fuels within the burn area smolder. During burn operations, traffic control will be in place on U.S. Highway 36 and Bear Lake Road adjacent to the burn area. Visitors passing through active burning areas may be escorted by fire personnel to ensure their safety. Park visitors will not be allowed to stop along roadways within the burn area. Temporary road closures may also be implemented.
Smoke from the prescribed fire may be visible both inside and outside the park. Every effort will be made to minimize smoke impacts on visitors and the local community; however, some smoke is anticipated to disperse east of the park. Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. For more information on the health effects of wildland fire smoke, please visit Wood smoke and your health | Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
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.
NPS - National Park Service published this content on October 26, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 26, 2026 at 23:22 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]