Wildfire Moves Into Rocky Mountain National Park: 'Numerous' Trees Down Near Trail Ridge Road

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, Colo. (CBS4) -- We are seeing a glimpse of the damage in Rocky Mountain National Park after the fire moved into the west side of the park. The entire park is closed.

"On the west side of the park, resources were focused on continual life and safety priorities," officials stated. "Numerous trees were down on the west side of Trail Ridge Road, north of the Green Mountain Trailhead, blocking that area as a means to evacuate on Wednesday night."

"As of [Thursday] night, the East Troublesome Fire had moved north of the Coyote Valley Trailhead," officials said.

The park says that some structures were damaged but they can't get in to fully survey the damage yet.

Earlier this week, the East Troublesome Fire crossed the continental divide. It's now burning along the east and west sides of the park.

"The weather has been very different on the west side of the park and the east side of the park," said Rocky Mountain National Park Public Affairs Officer, Kyle Patterson. "We know that there's going to be high winds forecast tonight and tomorrow. We know that right now the fuels are rather moist but they might dry up quickly."

With constantly changing weather patterns, park officials say a good offense is the best defense.

"It's unlikely that this moisture that's hopefully coming on Sunday and Monday will end this fire, but it will certainly help knock this fire down, help continue to give us more tools to use, and slow down the spread," Patterson said.

Barbara Harrison frequents Rocky Mountain National Park. She's one of many devastated to see new photos of the East Troublesome Fire burning inside the area.

"It's scary," Harrison said. "It's part of our life living here, just having all those places to hike and to see."

"I hope they put it out," Harrison said. "Let's get it under control."

Officials blamed a combination of weather, terrain, and beetle-killed lodgepole pine for contributing to the significant fire growth that was seen on Thursday.

RELATED: Estes Park Evacuated As East Troublesome Fire Burns Nearby

For the most up-to-date information on the East Troublesome Fire visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7242/ For the most up-to-date information on the Cameron Peak Fire visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6964/