The Bear Gulch Train Tunnel Fire near Ashton continues to smolder and creep as of Thursday.

Thomas Pence, public information officer attached to the Tunnel Fire, said the fire is still active. There have been no injuries, and no property has been damaged.

“We’ve had to close the trail due to the destabilization of the area,” he said. “We’re seeing rocky debris and some of the trussels are damaged. (The trussels) have potential to damage the trail.”

The “trail” winds around the old tunnel.

“The slope above the tunnel that it runs adjacent to — that slope has been destabilized,” Pence said. “While the tunnel has been collapsing, it has destabilized the adjacent slope. There is a significant risk of rocky debris impacting the trail.”

The Forest Service has closed the trail that extends from the Bear Gulch trailhead north of the junction with Forest Service Road 154 or at Warm River Springs Road.

Despite the closure, residents have continued to visit the trail, Pence said.

“We’ve had pretty significant enclosure incursions. (People) have been violating the closure order and going into that closure area,” Pence said. “We’re asking people not to go up there.”

Pence couldn’t give a specific date when the closure order would be lifted.

“With that continued rock fall, we’re not sure when to lift that closure,” he said. “We will lift that when it’s deemed safe to do so.

The fire won’t spread as it is contained inside the tunnel that’s still surrounded by snow, Pence said.

Fire closures are uncommon during this time of year but are necessary at times, he said.

“They are a critical tool utilized to protect public and firefighters from unreasonable hazards while performing fire mitigation practices,” Pence said. “Due to high levels of closure incursion, fire personnel will continue to remain inside the closure and patrolling the surrounding area to ensure a safe operational environment is maintained.”

The Bear Gulch Train Tunnel is a much-loved and historic part of Fremont County. Pence has received numerous calls from residents asking about the tunnel fire.

“We’ve had some continued interest,” he said.

The train is credited with helping develop Ashton. Residents often woke to the train’s whistle and would go in for the night when it again whistled.

For more information on the tunnel, visit fremontcountyhistoricalsociety.org.