Though the Royal Gorge Fire has been wrecking untold havoc across an estimated 3,800 acres, the historic Royal Gorge Bridge reportedly remains intact.
Fire officials caution however that the bridge, which is made mostly from steel but also utilizes wooden planking, may have sustained some damage and will have to undergo an evaluation.
“We do know that many buildings on the property were a catastrophic loss, but an assessment of the actual damage is still unknown,” said Peggy Gair, HR/PR manager for the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park in a statement. "We had an orderly evacuation yesterday afternoon around noon, so we are extremely happy to report that all employees are okay, and all guests were evacuated safely.”
Fire Information Officer Mike Smith told The Denver Post that it's uncertain how many or which buildings within the tourist attraction had been burned or whether the bridge sustained any damage or not.
"Even if it didn't char the planking, the heat from adjacent burning buildings may have affected the cables," Smith said.
Local animals surrounding the bridge appear to have fared well so far as well.
“The park has elk, buffalo, bighorn sheep, and saddle horses on property and all reported to be okay and are being watched closely, receiving fresh water and feed,” said Gair.
The Royal Gorge Fire has burned nearly 4,000 acres since it broke out on Tuesday and remains zero-percent contained.
The Royal Gorge Bridge is listed with the National Register of Historic Places and is suspended 956 feet above the Arkansas River, making it one of the world's highest suspension bridges.
Lessening the good news a little later on Wednesday night however, Twitter users began reporting that the historic bridge's tram may have been destroyed in the fire.
This is a developing story...
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