⁍ Residents remaining in Estes Park, in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park, were told to evacuate their homes on Saturday.
⁍ Officials issued a mandatory evacuation order for eastern Estes Park as wind gusts pushed the 191,000-acre (77,300-hectare) East Troublesome Fire east.
⁍ As the flames spread, authorities closed all 415 square miles (668 square km) of Rocky Mountain National Park to visitors.
– Residents of Estes Park, in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park, were told to evacuate their homes on Saturday as wind gusts fanned the second largest wildfire in state history and the blaze claimed the lives of an elderly couple. Officials issued a mandatory evacuation order for eastern Estes Park as wind gusts pushed the 191,000-acre East Troublesome Fire east, threatening the town of 6,300 people that serves as a base camp for the popular national park, reports Reuters. Noel Livingston, incident commander for the fire, said firefighters waged a ‘very aggressive’ battle on Saturday to hold the line at Estes Park and expressed hopes that a winter storm overnight would aid in containment. ‘They’ve had a very long day, a very tough day,’ Livingston told a briefing on Saturday evening. ‘A lot of active fire spread there with the community certainly still at risk.’ Livingston said the fire probably was caused by a human, but noted that the investigation was not complete.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-wildfire-colorado/fingers-crossed-and-prayers-colorado-wildfire-kills-couple-forces-more-evacuations-idUSKBN2790RT