East Troublesome Fire Grows, Rocky Mountain National Park Closes

Rocky Mountain National Park has closed as the East Troublesome Fire burns west of the park, officials announced Thursday. The fire has become the second-largest in Colorado's recorded history.

The town of Grand Lake remains under an evacuation order, and mandatory evacuations have been issued for Estes Park, western Rocky Mountain National Park and Granby.

The fire grew more than 100,000 acres in 24 hours, fire officials said. As of Thursday night, the fire reached 170,000 acres.

The East Troublesome Fire is at risk of merging with the Cameron Peak Fire, which is around 10 miles away, officials said. As of Thursday, the Cameron Peak Fire had burned 206,977 acres and was 55 percent contained.

The air quality in Rocky Mountain National Park is considered "hazardous," public health officials said. The East Troublesome Fire reached the southwest corner of the park Wednesday night.

A cold front came in Thursday night and stopped the wildfire from moving farther toward Estes Park, officials said.

Many buildings have been destroyed in the wildfire, but as of Thursday night, the number of structures was not known.

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