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Royal Gorge Fire 40% Contained

CANON CITY, Colo. (CBS4)- The weather conditions combined with the hard work of firefighters helped bring the Royal Gorge Fire to 40 percent containment.

Higher humidity and the possibility of light rain are expected to help fire crews on the front lines of the fire. Cooler and more moist conditions are expected through Sunday.

Fire crews continue to secure the fire line and mop up. Despite the improved conditions and limited fire activity, fire officials warn the fire is still very active.

“"It is important for the public to know that there are pockets of unburned fuel inside the fire perimeter, and that smoke may be visible - sometimes significant - but those areas are well within the fire perimeter and pose no threat to the containment lines," said Incident Commander Dan Dallas in a statement.

The famous suspension bridge over the Arkansas River appears to be in relatively good condition. A total of 32 of its 1,292 wooden planks are damaged.

An aerial tram car and tram buildings on either side of the gorge are destroyed, and the tram cable has dropped into the canyon. An incline railway that descends 1,500 feet to the canyon floor is damaged.

Repairs continue on the bridge to reopen that portion as quickly as possible, with limited capacity.

The Royal Gorge Bridge is the highest suspension bridge in the United States and the eighth highest in the world.

Highway 50 was reopened to traffic on Thursday.

The Royal Gorge Fire has burned 3,128 acres since it started on Tuesday afternoon and is burning in pinon, juniper and sage brush. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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