You can see burned out grass in Moraine Park along the Big Thompson River with the still smoldering fire of Forest Canyon in the background.
The higher mountain on the left in this photograph is Steep Mountain, behind the Big Thompson River. It still had some “hot spots” that the firefighters are fighting. You can see a plume of smoke from a “hot spot” near the top of the ridge.
Today there were 503 fire personnel helping with the Fern Lake Fire. 400 of these are firefighters. Tom, from Emergency Management in Medford, Oregon was educating me on the path of the fire, what is now going on now in Forest Canyon and on Steep Mountain and how the “hot spots” erupt up on the ridge of Steep Mountain.
We were able to drive over to see the cabin that was burned in Moraine Park. You could see the exact path of the fire and where it hit and where it hopped over. This was the only cabin to catch on fire, with the fire stopping a few yards beyond. You can see in the background that the grass was totally untouched in patches. Only one tree nearby was totally charred. Our hearts go out to the people who lost their home here in Rocky Mountain National Park. We have hiked in this area by this cabin so many times.
This is the tree that was totally charred by the flames from the cabin.
This shows a firefighter yesterday fighting the fire in the forest. Photo courtesy of Channel 7 News (Major King KMGH-TV / KZCO-LD).
Right now the Fern lake Fire is 40% contained. The fire fighters are doing an amazing job helping to stomp out this fire. Thanks to all of the fire fighters and fire management personnel for helping us here in Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. We are ALL so very thankful!
Thank you so much for posting these. Moraine Park (or Stead’s Meadow as my mom always called it) has been a special place in our family since my great-grandfather used to go fishing there in the 1930s.
Yes, the firefighters are doing an amazing job keeping the fire from crossing Bear Lake Road.
Thanks for the videos and pictures. I am not as bummed as I was when I heard the news on Saturday. There are still trees and the valley will look so pretty in the spring.
What a superb monument to nature’s determination to survive are the intact stone chimney and hearth, with the equally intact evergreen tree, both surrounded by the incinerated remains of the cabin and its contents!
Thank you for this update! I feel as though a friend has passed a critical milestone. Nature will demonstrate her remarkable healing powers.
This is slightlyt off-topic, but what are your thoughts on global warming? As a fervent nature-lover (as u are too, I believe), how do u reconcile the fact that our earth is hurting, and no one seems to take it seriously? Thanks 4 YOUR thoughts! :/)
Mel, thanks so much for the update on the fire. The videos and pictures make it so much more “real”. Hoping for snow there soon.
Kathleen, our earth is definitely not the same as it was 100 years ago. I think that the movement needs to be from the ground-floor up. Each and every one of us needs to do our part in helping to preserve our beautiful earth. One of my friends called me the other day and she was livid because one of her good friends does not believe in global warming at all. She just couldn’t understand her thinking. I think that it is a very devisive world today that we live in today. People have their own opinions and do not want to be swayed…we just each need to do out part to help preserve what we have.
Thank you, or as we say in my yoga class, ‘Namaste!’
Thank you for the pictures even though it is sad to see that beautiful meadow burned. I know it will be beautiful again and my husband and I look forward to enjoying it again. Thank you to all the firefighters and other personnel helping to get this fire out.