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Smoke From East Troublesome Fire Dwarfs Colorado Mountains in Stunning Timelapse

Colorado’s raging East Troublesome Fire prompted mandatory evacuation orders on October 22, as the blaze grew to more than 170,163 acres, or 266 square miles.

Roads out of Estes Park were reportedly clogged with traffic amid the evacuations.

Officials warned of the possible merging of the fire with the Cameron Peak Fire, which had been described as the largest in Colorado’s history.

The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office issued a mandatory evacuation order for the western part of Rocky Mountain National Park and western parts of Estes Park. Residents were instructed to evacuate as quickly as possible.

Town officials said all routes into Estes Park had been closed. Rocky Mountain National Park was also closed, and park officials warned that air quality was “hazardous.”

Colorado native Jake Norton captured this footage showing clouds of smoke rising above the mountains near Echo Lake Park, another Colorado park closed by the fires, on October 21.

Posting it to Facebook the following day, he wrote, “It’s hard to fathom the horrific growth in the East Troublesome Fire over the past 36 hours.”

He continued, “My heart goes out to those who have lost everything, and those who are in harm’s way. And, huge thanks to the brave firefighters and first responders on the front lines keeping people safe.” Credit: MountainWorld Productions via Storyful