Finally, after burning for two months, four to six inches of snow fell on the 3,498-acre Fern Lake Fire west of Estes Park, Colorado on Saturday. The much cooler temperatures and heavy snow drove firefighters from some of the steeper slopes and many are being demobilized back to their home units. The latest report from the incident management team said “The snow cover will prevent further spread…”. The crews that are still on the fire will continue to remove hose lays and rehab firelines.
In spite of the heavy snow, further spread being prevented, and with many of the firefighters being sent home, the incident management team is only calling the fire 60% contained, a figure that strains credibility (definition of “containment”).
The progression map above is interesting, showing the three to four mile run the fire made on December 1. The movement that day burned a cabin on private land in Moraine Park west of the town of Estes Park. A higher resolution version of the map can be found HERE.
