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Rangers Manage To Tackle Illegal Campfires At Rocky Mountain National Park Before Serious Flareups

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Published Date

September 3, 2015
Fern Lake Fire at Rocky Mountain National Park/NPS

Rocky Mountain National Park officials are hoping to avoid another Fern Lake Fire, but need campers to douse their campfires/NPS

Careless campers at Rocky Mountain National Park have left smoldering campfires behind, though fortunately rangers were able to douse them before they blew up into major wildfires. But one day they might not be able to respond so quickly.

Park officials say that none of the illegal campfires burned more than a quarter-acre, but "each one had the potential to spread and threaten lives and property."

Rocky Mountain National Park always has fire restrictions in place. Campfires are only allowed within designated campfire rings at select locations in the park, including picnic areas and campgrounds.

In the fall of 2012, the Fern Lake Fire started from an illegal campfire. Over a nine-month period the fire burned more than 3,000 acres, caused an evacuation of a portion of Estes Park, and cost more than $6 million to suppress.

"We have been fortunate to have experienced a relatively quiet wildfire season compared to other parts of the country," park spokeswoman Kyle Patterson said. "However, the extra grasses and thick vegetation from the spring and summer rains are drying out and fire danger continues to rise as we enter September. Combined with normal fall wind events, we still have the potential for fast moving, large fire events."

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