BLM Colorado, Upper Colorado District, Colorado River Valley Field Office Media Contact: Heather Marsh, hmarsh@blm.gov, 970-852-9272 Aug. 22, 2025
BLM Colorado rescinds public land closure order for Lee Fire
SILT, Colo. — Today, the Bureau of Land Management rescinded the land closure order for BLM-managed public lands in Garfield County because of the Lee Fire. The rescission is effective immediately because fire and emergency managers have determined the area is safe.
BLM issued the emergency closure Aug. 11 to ensure public and firefighter safety during suppression and contingency efforts. Activity related to the Lee Fire will continue until the fire is controlled. BLM urges the public to use caution in the area.
The public land closure for the Derby Fire, in Garfield and Eagle Counties, is still in effect. Additionally, the BLM Colorado River Valley Field Office and U.S. Forest White River National Forest remain under stage 2 fire restrictions. Information about fire restrictions is available on the BLM Upper Colorado River District Fire Restrictions webpage.
We appreciate your understanding as we prioritize safety and resource integrity during this critical time. For more information, please call the Colorado River Valley Field Office front desk at 970-876-9000. -BLM-
Location: 13 miles north of Dotsero, CO Start Date: 8/16/2025; Cause: Lightning Size: Est. 3569 acres Completion/Containment: 0% 211 total personnel
PUBLIC MEETING TONIGHT – 630pm Gypsum Town Hall, 50 Lundgren Blvd.
Key Message:
Aircraft dropped water and fire retardant along the Derby Fire’s western flank. Firefighters built dozer lines along the fire’s southern perimeter, then worked overnight to secure it. Structure protection on over 200 structures has been completed.
Current Status:
The fire is expanding slowly because it is mostly driven by fuels and not wind. Fire managers are being vigilant in their preparations for thunderstorm outflow winds that could push fire south into the Sweetwater Creek drainage. Fire managers have already worked to complete structure protection for over 200 structures along Sweetwater Rd. to Red Dirt Creek by positioning sprinkler kits and removing surrounding fuels. Yesterday firefighters established dozer lines along the fire’s southern perimeter, then worked to secure it overnight. Aircraft supported ground crews by dropping water and fire retardant along the fire’s west flank to slow its expansion toward Sweetwater Rd., buying time for firefighters to secure and connect containment lines.
Weather and Fire Behavior:
The trend of hot and dry weather continues to make subalpine fuels very receptive to fire spread. However, the weekend is likely to bring cooler temperatures and increased chances of monsoonal precipitation. Daytime smoke and nighttime glows from the fire may be visible.
Closures and Special Messages:
Eagle County has issued an evacuation notice for residents of Sweetwater Rd. and areas of the Colorado River Rd. from Sweetwater to Red Dirt Creek. Derby Mesa Loop remains in pre-evacuation status. More evacuation information is available at www.ecemergency.org, including where to shelter and resources for pets and livestock.
The Forest Service and BLM have both issued public closure orders in the vicinity of the fire to protect public and firefighter safety. The White River National Forest’s closure order and map are posted at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver. The BLM Colorado River Valley Field Office’s closure order and map are posted at https://www.blm.gov/…/blm-issues-land-closure-garfield….
Ubicación: 13 millas al norte de Dotsero, CO Fecha de inicio: 16/8/2025; Causa: Rayo Tamaño: Est. 3569 acres Finalización/Contención: 0% 211 efectivos en total
REUNIÓN PÚBLICA ESTA NOCHE – 6:30 pm Ayuntamiento de Gypsum, 50 Lundgren Blvd.
Mensaje clave:
Aviones lanzaron agua y retardante de fuego a lo largo del flanco oeste del incendio Derby. Los bomberos construyeron lĂneas de excavadoras a lo largo del perĂmetro sur del incendio y trabajaron durante la noche para asegurarlo. Se completĂł la protecciĂłn de más de 200 estructuras.
Estado actual:
El incendio se está expandiendo lentamente debido a que es impulsado principalmente por combustibles y no por el viento. Los bomberos se mantienen alertas en sus preparativos ante los vientos de salida de tormenta que podrĂan empujar el fuego hacia el sur, hacia la cuenca del arroyo Sweetwater. Los bomberos ya han completado la protecciĂłn de más de 200 estructuras a lo largo de Sweetwater Rd. hasta Red Dirt Creek, instalando equipos de rociadores y retirando los combustibles circundantes. Ayer, los bomberos establecieron lĂneas de excavadoras a lo largo del perĂmetro sur del incendio y trabajaron para asegurarlo durante la noche. Aeronaves apoyaron a los equipos de tierra lanzando agua y retardante de fuego a lo largo del flanco oeste del incendio para frenar su expansiĂłn hacia Sweetwater Rd., lo que les dio tiempo a los bomberos para asegurar y conectar las lĂneas de contenciĂłn.
El clima y el comportamiento del fuego:
La tendencia al clima cálido y seco continúa haciendo que los combustibles subalpinos sean muy susceptibles a la propagación del fuego. Sin embargo, es probable que el fin de semana traiga temperaturas más bajas y mayores probabilidades de precipitaciones monzónicas. Es posible que se observe humo diurno y resplandores nocturnos del incendio.
Cierres y mensajes especiales:
El Condado de Eagle ha emitido un aviso de evacuación para los residentes de Sweetwater Rd. y áreas de Colorado River Rd. desde Sweetwater hasta Red Dirt Creek. Derby Mesa Loop permanece en estado de preevacuación. Puede encontrar más información sobre la evacuación en www.ecemergency.org , incluyendo dónde refugiarse y recursos para mascotas y ganado.
El Servicio Forestal y la Oficina de AdministraciĂłn de Tierras (BLM) han emitido Ăłrdenes de cierre pĂşblico en las inmediaciones del incendio para proteger la seguridad del pĂşblico y de los bomberos. La orden de cierre y el mapa del Bosque Nacional del RĂo Blanco están publicados en https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver . La orden de cierre y el mapa de la Oficina de Campo del Valle del RĂo Colorado de la BLM están publicados en https://www.blm.gov/…/blm-issues-land-closure-garfield… .
INFORMACIÓN DEL CONDADO DE EAGLE REGÍSTRESE PARA RECIBIR ALERTAS – Alertas del 911 ACTUALIZACIONES DE INCIDENTES – Aplicación EC Emergency o Reachwell FACEBOOK – facebook.com/eaglecountyso @eaglecountyso
August 22, 2025 – Issued for western Eagle and eastern Garfield counties by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Affected area: Western Eagle and eastern Garfield Counties. Locations include, but are not limited to Sweetwater Lake and Dotsero.
Advisory in effect: 9 a.m. MDT, Friday, August 22, 2025 to 9 a.m. MDT, Saturday, August 23, 2025.
Public health recommendations: If smoke is thick or becomes thick in your neighborhood you may want to remain indoors. This is especially true for those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the very young, and older adults. Consider limiting outdoor activity when moderate to heavy smoke is present. Consider relocating temporarily if smoke is present indoors and is making you ill. If visibility is less than 5 miles in smoke in your neighborhood, smoke has reached levels that are unhealthy.
Outlook: Smoke from the Derby Fire is impacting parts of central Colorado. The heaviest smoke is expected in areas near the fire and in low-lying areas during the overnight and early morning hours, including the Sweetwater Lake and Colorado River Road between Dotsero and Burns.
Location: 11 miles south of Meeker, Colorado Start Date: 08/02/2025 Cause: Lightning Size: Lee Fire: 137,755 acres | Elk Fire: 14,518 acres Containment: Lee Fire: 76% | Elk Fire: 100%
400 Total Personnel; 5 Helicopters; 21 Engines; 2 Hand Crews; 9 Water Tenders; 3 Dozers
KEY MESSAGE
Pronounced smoke columns will continue to be visible from both the Lee and Elk Fires. This lingering activity is confined well within the interior of both fires and poses no threat to containment lines. It is driven by the persistent hot, dry weather and will occur until significant precipitation. As these islands of unburned vegetation are consumed, it serves to strengthen containment lines by removing fuels thereby reducing spotting potential.
CURRENT STATUS
Lee Fire – Yesterday, resources completed chipping operations on the east flank and will continue along the southern edge of the fire. With the hot, dry and windy conditions testing containment lines yesterday, firefighters extended staffing hours to monitor and reinforce lines to prevent any spread. Today, aviation and ground crews will continue yesterday’s work of cooling down a hot spot along the fire’s edge and improving fire lines. Contingency work will resume on a fuel break adjacent to the fire’s southern edge.
Elk Fire – Resources have completed much of the planned suppression repair efforts and will continue with heavy machine operations until completion over the next few days.
WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR
A few showers will pass over the fire area this morning. More scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop in the afternoon, bringing chances of brief heavy rain, lightning and gusty winds. Additional showers and thunderstorms are expected this weekend with a significantly wetter period moving in the area late Sunday through Wednesday.
Equipo 1 de Gestión de Incidentes del Complejo de las Montañas Rocosas del Norte, Comandante de Incidentes Brent Olson
Ubicación: 11 millas al sur de Meeker, Colorado Fecha de inicio: 08/02/2025 Causa: Relámpago Tamaño: Lee Incendio: 137,755 acres | Incendio Elk: 14,518 acres Contención: Incendio Lee: 76% | Incendio Elk: 100% 400 Personal total; 21 camiones de bomberos; 5 helicópteros; 2 cuadrillas; 3 topadoras; 9 Licitaciones de agua
MENSAJE CLAVE Las columnas de humo pronunciadas seguirán siendo visibles desde los incendios Lee y Elk. Esta actividad persistente está confinada dentro del interior de ambos incendios y no representa una amenaza para las lĂneas de contenciĂłn. Es impulsado por el clima cálido y seco persistente y ocurrirá hasta precipitaciones significativas. A medida que se consumen estas islas de vegetaciĂłn no quemada, sirve para fortalecer las lĂneas de contenciĂłn al eliminar los combustibles, lo que reduce el potencial de detecciĂłn.
ESTADO ACTUAL: Incendio Lee – Ayer, los recursos completaron las operaciones de astillado en el flanco este y continuarán a lo largo del borde sur del incendio. Con las condiciones cálidas, secas y ventosas que pusieron a prueba las lĂneas de contenciĂłn ayer, los bomberos extendieron las horas de personal para monitorear y reforzar las lĂneas para evitar cualquier propagaciĂłn. Hoy, los equipos de aviaciĂłn y tierra continuarán el trabajo de ayer de enfriar un punto caliente a lo largo del borde del incendio y mejorar las lĂneas de fuego. El trabajo de contingencia se reanudará en un descanso de combustible adyacente al borde sur del incendio.
Incendio Elk – Recursos ha completado gran parte de los esfuerzos de reparaciĂłn de supresiĂłn planificados y continuará con las operaciones de maquinaria pesada hasta su finalizaciĂłn en los prĂłximos dĂas.
CIERRES Y MENSAJES ESPECIALES Piceance Creek Road (CR 5) permanece cerrada. Para obtener informaciĂłn precisa y actualizada sobre evacuaciones y cierres de carreteras para el condado de RĂo Blanco, visite la página de Facebook de la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de RĂo Blanco en: https://www.facebook.com/RioBlancoCountySheriffsOffice. Para obtener actualizaciones del condado de Garfield, visite: https://www.garfieldcounty.net/. La informaciĂłn sobre el cierre del Bosque Nacional White River está disponible en: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/alerts. La informaciĂłn sobre el cierre de la oficina de campo de BLM White River está disponible en: https://ow.ly/78uF50WGjNW.
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management – Team 3
Total acreage: 3,569 acres with 0% containment 211 personnel/resources assigned Resources continue to arrive to the fire and will be beginning assignments today!
Superficie total: 3,569 acres con 0% de contención 211 personas/recursos asignados ¡ Los recursos continúan llegando al incendio y comenzarán sus asignaciones hoy!
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3
Here is the #DerbyFire briefing. We sincerely apologize for the delay, there were extreme technical difficulties we hope to have ironed out tomorrow.
Northern Rockies CIMT – Team 3 give an update on the current situation of the Derby Fire for August 21st, 2025.
Community meeting tonight
Please join us for a community meeting tonight at 6:30 pm at the Gypsum Town Hall, 50 Lundgren Blvd, Gypsum, CO. Spanish language translation will be available. We will try again with live streaming.
The Derby Incident Operations Section Chief and Incident Commander, as well as the Eagle County Sheriff, will provide an update on the current situation and operational strategies. Officials will be available for questions after the update.
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3
Please join us for a community meeting Friday, August 22, 2025 at 6:30 pm at the Gypsum Town Hall, 50 Lundgren Blvd, Gypsum, CO. Spanish language translation will be available. We will try again with live streaming.
The Derby Incident Operations Section Chief and Incident Commander, as well as the Eagle County Sheriff, will provide an update on the current situation and operational strategies. Officials will be available for questions after the update.
