PHOTOS: Smoke From East Troublesome, Cameron Peak Fires Blankets Grand County and Estes Park

By Francie Swidler, Hart Van Denburg, Kevin J. Beaty, and Michael Elizabeth Sakas

· Oct. 22, 2020, 11:41 am

EAST-TROUBLESOME-ESTES-EVACUATES — Mandatory evacuations are underway in Estes Park as the Cameron Peak fire and the East Troublesome fire threaten the area. Oct. 22, 2020

Where things stand right now, with the East Troublesome and Cameron Peak fires

Weather: Snow is good for the fire — but bad for pipes in evacuated homes
What we know right now: Sheriff confirms two deaths in Grand Lake
Rocky Mountain National Park: How bad is the fire damage to RMNP?
Photos: What our reporters are seeing, from Grand County to Estes Park
Maps, resources, evacuation information and more

Early Thursday morning, the East Troublesome fire burning in Grand County exploded in size — jumping from 30,000 acres to more than 125,000.

The fire prompted immediate evacuations of hundreds of people in Grand Lake and the surrounding areas.

Crews fighting the fire expect another day of large fire growth.

Nearby — north of Grand Lake and west of Fort Collins — the Cameron Peak fire is still actively burning, at more than 206,000 acres.

Here's a look at what our reporters are seeing.

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Granby, early Thursday morning

Around 2 a.m., CPR News Visuals Editor Hart Van Denburg arrived in Granby in Grand County, which is about 15 miles from Grand Lake.

EAST TROUBLESOME FIRE GRANBY 201022 — The East Troublesome fire burns just a few miles from Granby in the early hours of Thursday morning, Oct. 22, 2020. The blaze grew to about 30,000 acres on Wednesday, burning all the way to Grand Lake, which has been evacuated.

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Estes Park, early Thursday morning

Around 6 a.m., Denverite photojournalist Kevin J. Beaty and CPR News climate reporter Michael E. Sakas arrived in Estes Park. While stopping for coffee at Big Horn, Kevin ran into firefighters fueling up for the day.

Hygiene Firefighters Nicole Palestro, Kirsten Barry and Dylan Miraglia sip coffee at Big Horn in Estes Park before their shift fighting fires in the area — both the Cameron Peak fire and the East Troublesome fire are burning near Estes Park. "We're hoping for snow," Nicole says. Oct. 22, 2020

Outside the Big Horn coffee shop in Estes Park early Thursday morning, firefighters fill up on what's looking to be a long day. Both the Cameron Peak fire and the East Troublesome fire are burning nearby. Oct. 22, 2020

In a parking lot in Estes Park under a smoky sun, a crow observes the world from a light pole. Ash from nearby the nearby Cameron Peak and East Troublesome fires drizzles on the ground. Oct. 22, 2020.

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Smoke from the East Troublesome fire in Grand County hovers over Lake Estes in Estes Park on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020

A smoky sun in Estes Park on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020. Smoke from the nearby Cameron Peak and East Troublesome fires is covering the town.

Smoke from the East Troublesome fire hovers over Lake Estes in Estes Park early in the morning on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020.

Smoke from the East Troublesome fire and Cameron Peak fire looms over the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020.

The smoke in downtown Estes Park from the nearby East Troublesome and Cameron Peak fires. Oct. 22, 2020.

Gary Williams stands in a parking lot in Estes Park. Williams lives in Pinewood Springs, where in 2013 he was helicoptered out of due to flooding. “I’d rather have the flood than the fire,” he said. “A fire, it’s almost, you can’t stop it.” He’s getting ready to evacuate just in case. Oct. 22, 2020

Grand County, Thursday morning

At 9:15 a.m., Rocky Mountain National Park announced it was closed to visitors due to fire activity on the west side of the Continental Divide. "Currently, air quality is hazardous," the park tweeted.

Estes Park, late Thursday morning

Later in the morning, around 10:30 a.m., Kevin headed north of Estes Park, closer to the Cameron Peak fire.

North of Estes Park, smoke and ash from the nearby East Troublesome and Cameron Peak fire cover the trees, the mountains and the grass.

Volunteers north of Estes Park near Glen Haven serve, under a blanket of smoke, snacks and drinks to first responders fighting the nearby East Troublesome fire and Cameron Peak fire. Oct., 22, 2020.

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Estes Park officer Andrew Johnson lives down this hill in Glen Haven, which was hit hard by the floods here in 2013. He evacuated due to the nearby fires a week ago, and he sure hopes his home is ok. The hamlet is home to a lot of law enforcement, and the situation has made their jobs more complicated. Oct., 22, 2020

Granby, pre-evacuation orders, late Thursday morning

Around 11:45 a.m. the town of Granby in Grand County went on pre-evacuation orders.

Grand Lake Ballots Rescued From East Troublesome Fire Evacuation Zone

Estes Park, mandatory evacuation orders. Thursday afternoon

Around 1:00 p.m., the Larimer County Sheriff's Office ordered mandatory evacuations for the western part of Rocky Mountain National Park and much of Estes Park. Michael Sakas and Kevin J. Beaty are stuck in gridlock traffic, trying to get out.

Mandatory evacuation orders now in place for areas of Estes Park, including downtown. That means me, now in a major traffic jam with all the other folks trying to get out of town. pic.twitter.com/C7Gw0vLlBm
— Michael Elizabeth Sakas (@MichaelESakas) October 22, 2020

Mandatory evacuations are underway in Estes Park as the Cameron Peak fire and the East Troublesome fire threaten the area.

It is dark as night and the roads are GRID LOCKED. The roads down the mountain must be creeping. pic.twitter.com/DGtHqQZaBk
— Kevin Beaty (@KevinJBeaty) October 22, 2020

Smoke and ash from the nearby East Troublesome and Cameron Peak fires loom over Estes Park, where there are mandatory evacuation orders. Oct. 22, 2020.

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Granby, Thursday afternoon, smoke and wind

Thursday afternoon in Granby, the wind picked up. It didn't make anything easier for firefighters or evacuees (or photographers).

Chaotic morning. Wind is howling now. #EastTroublesomeFire has blown up again huge. Granby in pre-evac and traffic streaming south out of town. EOC has relocated toWinter Park. More pix soon but meantime here's a clip @CPRNews pic.twitter.com/3pPbGku1UI
— Hart W. Van Denburg (@hartoutwest) October 22, 2020

TROUBLESOME-FIRE-GRANBY-201022 — With the East Troublesome fire blowing close to Granby, officials posted a pre-evacuation notice Thursday afternoon, Oct. 22, 2020. Motorists joined a long slow procession out of town on Hwy. 40 south.

Update at 6:00 p.m.: The East Troublesome Fire is now more than 170,000 acres. Our reporters are safe, and we hope you are too. More photos tomorrow.

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