COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Weeks after it was sandwiched between two explosive wildfires that burned through hundreds of thousands of acres, Rocky Mountain National Park is counting its losses and looking ahead to the future.
Officials said Friday that nearly 30,000 acres within the national park were burned, and several historic and familiar structures were lost.
Among the losses to the East Troublesome fire were the park's Trail and Tack Barn and everything inside it, the Grand Lake Entrance station office, Onahu Lodge and the Green Mountain cabins.
Also burned were the Harbison Meadows vault toilet facility and the garage structure at Trail River Ranch and its historic contents.
The main park housing area, the Kawuneeche Visitor Center, the Trail River Ranch main building and Buckaroo Barn were spared.
"It pains our hearts to see the loss of cherished structures like the Green Mountain cabins and Onahu Lodge, located along Trail Ridge Road in the Kawuneeche Valley," park Superintendent Darla Sidles said in a news release.
"Both were eligible for the National Register of Historic Places for their rustic design and association with early 20th century development of ranching and resort industries. But more importantly they represented an important part of our shared history and culture and were cherished landmarks. They were also where many of our seasonal staff were housed."
Flames are still burning in isolated areas of the park, but they are not spreading. Officials said that some areas have not been assessed for damage, as a number of hazards prevent park workers from accessing remote areas.
On Oct. 21, the East Troublesome fire, which had ignited a week earlier, exploded by over 100,000 acres in a single day, and entered the park.
The fire is the second largest in the state's history. It has burned 193,812 acres and remains only 47% contained, according to the fire incident page.
In the eastern part of the park, the Fern Lake Backcountry Cabin, which had stood for 95 years, was also burnt to the ground.
"It's the oldest structure that burned," Sidles said. "In 95 years, countless rangers, wilderness crews, trail crews, biologists and search and rescue operations have been based and supported out of this cabin."
Despite the park losing some unique structures, officials say mitigation and fuels management efforts limited the damage.
"It was recognized over 20 years ago that Estes Park and other communities adjacent to the park were at risk from wildfire," said Fire Management Officer Mike Lewelling in the news release. "Over that time, there was a realization that wildfires are getting larger nationwide, fire seasons are getting longer and to make matters worse, the mountain pine beetle outbreak created a fuels profile that is very volatile."
Over the last five years, officials say, the park's fuel management practices created a "catcher's mitt" approach around Estes Park and other nearby structures.
Although what's lost can never be restored, officials realize that fires are a natural process in the ecosystem, and will establish a Burned Area Emergency Response Plan, which will assess the damage, the possibility for post-fire disturbance and recommend ways to diminish those impacts.
Park officials will also begin researching and monitoring opportunities to track and understand the effects and recovery of the fire.
"We will continue to assess additional areas in the park that we can reopen when it is safe to do so," said Sidles.
"The natural resources will recover with new life sprouting up in the fire's footprint, and we will move forward and continue to do our best to manage Rocky Mountain National Park to preserve the natural and cultural resources for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations."
On Friday, portions of the RMNP reopened to the public after being shut down completely on Oct. 22.
Park officials noted that they are far from the only fire victims.
"This has been a challenging fire year for us and for all Coloradans," Sidles said.
"Our staff are part of these communities, and our hearts go out to all our friends, family, and neighbors who have suffered and lost as a result of these fires."
