Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority
9.27.25, 12:40 am – I-70 is open at mile marker 130 westbound, Dotsero.
Colorado Department of Transportation
9.26.25, 9:03 pm – Westbound I-70 is closed to through traffic at Wolcott, Exit 157, due to a rolled over CMV crash that took place in Glenwood Canyon at around 6 p.m. this evening. CDOT and its partners worked tirelessly to avoid putting a detour in place — estimated to add four hours of travel time — but unfortunately, I-70 through Glenwood Canyon is an extremely challenging section of road with limited space for operations. There is no estimated time of re-opening.
The detour that is in place directs commuters onto US 6 via exit 157, Wolcott, north on HWY 131 toward Steamboat, west on US 40 towards Craig, south on HWY 13, and back on I-70 near Rifle.
Check COtrip.org or the #COtrip Planner app for more information and road updates.
Fire Information: 970-355-3283 (8 a.m. – 5 p.m.) Start Date: 08/16/25 Location: 13 miles north of Dotsero, Colo. Cause: Lightning Size: 5,453 acres Containment: 62% Personnel: 344
Key Messages: A Type 3 Incident Management Team took command of the Derby Fire this morning. Firefighting resources continue to be downsized as containment increases. The Bureau of Land Management has reduced the size of its area closure, for more information visit : https://www.blm.gov/ucr-fire-restrictions.
Current Situation – The fire has seen minimal growth over the past several days. Firefighters are continuing to strengthen and patrol containment lines as well as back haul equipment. In areas with containment, firefighters are continuing suppression repair to restore areas disturbed by firefighting activities such as firelines, staging areas, and helipads. A heavy helicopter, light helicopter and unmanned aircraft systems (drones) are available to assist firefighters today.
The Incident Command Post at the Eagle Fairgrounds is being significantly downsized today.
Weather and Fire Behavior – Rain showers and thunderstorms are expected today and tomorrow but will likely decrease throughout the week. The showers will bring brief gusty winds, but overall winds are expected to remain light. With the incoming monsoon moisture, fire activity is expected to be low. Evacuations and Closures: Fire restrictions and closures remain in place for Bureau of Land Management areas, https://www.blm.gov/ucr-fire-restrictions and the White River National Forest https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/alerts/. Fire restrictions have dropped to Stage 1.
A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the Derby Fire. All unauthorized aircraft (including drones) are prohibited from flying near the fire, as they can interfere with authorized air support operations. For more information, visit https://tfr.faa.gov.
Actualización del Incendio Derby 6 de septiembre de 2025
Equipo de gestión de incidentes tipo 3
Patrick Kieran, Comandante de Incidentes
Información sobre incendios: 970-355-3283 (8 a.m. – 5 p.m.) Fecha de inicio: 08/16/25 Ubicación: 13 millas al norte de Dotsero, Colorado Causa: Relámpago Tamaño: 5,453 acres Contención: 62% Personal: 344
Situación actual: El incendio ha experimentado un crecimiento mÃnimo en los últimos dÃas. Los bomberos continúan fortaleciendo y patrullando las lÃneas de contención y el equipo de retorno. En las áreas con contención, los bomberos continúan con la reparación de supresión para restaurar las áreas perturbadas por las actividades de extinción de incendios, como lÃneas de fuego, áreas de preparación y helipuertos. Un helicóptero pesado, un helicóptero ligero y sistemas de aeronaves no tripuladas (drones) están disponibles para ayudar a los bomberos en la actualidad.
The FDNY Incident Management Team sincerely thanks the Meeker community, as well as the firefighters, contractors, and partner agencies who worked tirelessly on the Lee Fire. Thanks to their dedication and resilience, the fire is now 99% contained.
It has been an honor to serve alongside you during this time. The progress made is a direct reflection of the hard work of so many people coming together in a time of need. We leave grateful for the welcome we received and for the opportunity to stand with this community.
Ryan Sharpe, Operations Sections Chief, discusses firefighting tactics on the #DerbyFire. Firefighters are taking advantage of current weather conditions ahead of a warming and drying weather trend that begins today, Sunday, August 31.
A spike camp has been set up on the east side of the fire. A spike camp is a temporary satellite camp located closer to the fireline – crews will sleep overnight in this location to reduce their travel time to reach the fireline and increase their daily work time. These firefighters are constructing fireline along the eastern edge of the fire moving south.
Crews will be flown in to construct fireline on the west side of the fire today, along with a Rapid Extraction Module Support (REMS) team who can provide highly-skilled medical care in the event of an emergency.
On the south side of the fire, from Sugarloaf Lake moving south, crews continue to improve the fireline. Mop-up and patrol continues along the southern fireline. On the southeast side of the fire, firefighters are constructing line moving north along the eastern fire edge – they will eventually meet up with the firefighters working their way south along the eastern fire edge.
The structure protection firefighters are beginning to backhaul equipment and supplies that are no longer needed in the Sweetwater area due to reduced fire behavior. Initial attack resources have been indentified to respond to any new fire starts within the Temporary Flight Restriction area (TFR) of the #DerbyFire.
Fire Information: 970-355-3283 Size: 5,749 acres Total Personnel: 699 Containment: 6% Cause: Lightning Resources: 4 Aircraft | 14 Hand Crews | 36 Engines | 17 Heavy Equipment
Current Situation: Firefighters are working directly along the fire’s edge to take advantage of moderated fire activity ahead of an upcoming warming trend. Crews advanced handline construction on the southwest corner of the fire Saturday. To have them closer to their work area, a hotshot crew will be flown into the area Sunday with a REMS (Rapid Extraction Module Support team). This is a specialized team that can provide a high-level of medical care and rapid extraction if needed. An Unmanned Aerial System will help support firefighters by scouting for heat in the area and to alert them of safety hazards.
Crews continue to construct indirect handline on the eastern perimeter of the fire, moving north. They are evaluating hand line construction options closer to the fire’s edge, as well as looking for potential helicopter medivac spots to support the ability to work in the steep terrain. This area has a higher concentration of mixed conifer and subalpine fir trees. Heat remains in the dead and downed timber. Fire weakened trees in this area can pose a threat to firefighter safety. Falling snags are a common hazard on the fireline.
The structure protection crews are monitoring fire defenses along Sweetwater, Sheep Creek, and Red Dirt Creek roads. Firefighters are beginning to remove hose lays, pumps and sprinklers around structures in Sweetwater Valley closer to the Colorado River corridor where the fire threat has lessened. Initial attack resources have been identified among the structure protection crew to respond to assist local resources with any new fire starts that occur within the Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) area of the Derby Fire.
Weather & Fire Behavior: Sunday will be the beginning of a warmer and dryer trend in the area. There is also a limited chance of precipitation with slight winds. Humidity will dip into the 20% range, which can result in grass, pine needles, twigs, and other light fuels to lose moisture and increase fire activity. Expect more smoldering and creeping of the fire due to the drier, warmer weather.
Evacuations and Closures: Fire restrictions and closures remain in place for lands within the Bureau of Land Management – Colorado River Valley Field Office areas and White River National Forest. Find out more at their websites: https://www.blm.gov/ucr-fire-restrictions. See Critical and Fire Restriction Forest Alerts at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/alerts/ .
The Colorado River, Sweetwater, and Red Dirt Creek roads have all been reopened, and the Garfield County and Eagle County Sheriff’s Offices have changed the evacuation status for Sweetwater Valley, Sheep Creek and Red Dirt Creek areas to pre-evacuation (READY) status: https://arcg.is/S0u4G and www.ecemergency.org.
A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the Derby Fire. All unauthorized aircraft (including drones) are prohibited from flying near the fire, as they can interfere with authorized air support operations. For more information, visit https://tfr.faa.gov.
Derby Fire Information Public Phone Line: (970) 355-3283 Office Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Evacuaciones y cierres: Las restricciones y cierres por incendios se permanecen vigentes en los terrenos bajo la administración de la Oficina de Administración de Tierras del Valle del RÃo Colorado y el Bosque Nacional White River. Para más información, visite su sitio web: https://www.blm.gov/ucr-fire-restrictions. Consulte las alertas forestales crÃticas y de restricciones por incendios en https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/alerts/.
Total acreages: 5,749 acres 6% containment 699 personnel
Building fireline takes all kinds of kinds. On the southeast side of the fire, crews continue to strengthen the fireline and gradually move north along the eastern side. Multiple handcrews and a variety of heavy equipment are working together to advance the fireline.
Taskforce leaders and heavy equipment bosses help coordinate this work. Medical personnel accompany firefighters to keep everyone safe. A field observer follows the progress of the fireline and collects information on the fuels, fire behavior, and on-site weather. #DerbyFire#FireYear2025
Photo: A dozer creates fireline by scraping away plants on the surface of the ground. Where fire creeps along the forest floor, this bare soil creates a barrier that the fire can’t move across without any flammable material to burn. S.Rawding/Derby Fire.
Location: 11 miles south of Meeker, Colorado Start Date: 08/02/2025 Cause: Lightning Size: Lee Fire: 137,758 acres Containment: Lee Fire: 95% 179 Total Personnel; 2 Hand Crews; 2 Dozers
KEY MESSAGE This is the final daily update from the FDNY Incident Management Team. On Monday morning at 0600, command of the fire will transition back to local agencies.
Over the past week, our team has been honored to serve alongside local, state, and federal partners in support of the Lee Fire. We are grateful for the cooperation, resilience, and support shown by the community and those working on the ground. As we prepare to return home, we do so with confidence in both the progress made and the agencies continuing this important work.
CURRENT STATUS Crews have now expanded suppression repair into additional areas of the fire, focusing on debris removal and restoration work. These projects are being completed in close coordination with Resource Advisors to ensure agency standards are met and to lay the groundwork for long-term recovery of the landscape.
WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR Clear skies and warming temperatures are expected today, accompanied by lower humidity. While the overall forecast points to mild and favorable conditions, there remains a chance for an isolated shower or thunderstorm this afternoon. Any storm activity could bring gusty winds up to 25 mph, which may briefly impact ongoing suppression repair. Looking ahead, the return to drier weather will allow crews to continue making steady progress across the fire area.
OPERATIONAL BRIEFING – AUGUST 30, 2025
August 30, 2025, Operational Briefing with Operations Section Vic Fernandez
CLOSURES AND SPECIAL MESSAGES For accurate up-to-date information on evacuations and road closures for Rio Blanco County, go to the Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/RioBlancoCountySheriffsOffice.
