Location: 11 miles south of Meeker, Colorado Start Date: 08/02/2025 Cause: Lightning Size: Lee Fire: 137,758 acres Containment: Lee Fire: 95% 195 Total Personnel; 8 Engines; 2 Hand Crews; 2 Water Tenders; 2 Dozers
KEY MESSAGE
Containment of the Lee Fire has increased to 95 percent. The addition of black line on the map reflects steady progress by firefighters patrolling the perimeter and completing suppression repair. Crews continue to strengthen lines and ensure the fire remains within its current footprint as work moves toward full containment.
CURRENT STATUS
Suppression repair is progressing across multiple areas, with crews conducting debris removal and other restoration work in coordination with Resource Advisors. These efforts are being carried out to agency standards and are designed to support long-term recovery.
WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR
Scattered rain showers are expected to continue into Saturday morning. While an isolated light shower or thunderstorm is possible in the afternoon, conditions will trend warmer and drier through the weekend. Temperatures are forecast to return to the 80s. Winds will generally be from the east at 5 mph, with gusts up to 17 mph possible near thunderstorms.
Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3
Incident Commanders Casey Cheesbrough, Jay Miller, Ben Sanders
Derby Fire Quick Facts: August 30, 2025 Location: 13 miles north of Dotsero, CO Start Date: 8/16/2025 Cause: Lightning Size: Est. 5,738 acres Completion/Containment: 6% Total personnel 667
Hand crews, such as the one pictured, serve as the “boots on the ground” in wildfire suppression. They are able to access difficult terrain where machinery may not and may hike long distances to reach the fireline. These crews are generally made up of a sawyer or “bucker,” who builds hand line by cutting trees to clear the path ahead. The bucker is followed by the “swamper” who removes the cut debris from the path. Following them comes a line of multiple diggers, swiping with a hand tool, continuing to advance down the line. Working together, they gradually clear vegetation to mineral soil, which the fire is unable to creep across.
These hand crews carry line gear that weighs about 35-40 pounds. It contains protective equipment, tools, water, snacks, a sack lunch and a Meal Ready to Eat (MRE), if needed. All of this is to keep them fueled and prepared for the immense and difficult work that they do every day.
Photo: The Mimbres 1 Type 2 Crew, based in Socorro, New Mexico, pose with the tools they use to build control line, including a chainsaw and specialized hoes. The backpack straps they’re wearing secure their line gear as they work. This crew had been working to build and improve control line on the southeast side of the fire. They demobilized Saturday and will return to their base to rest and refurbish their tools and equipment before their next assignment. – 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: 90% 218 Total Personnel; 9 Engines; 2 Hand Crews; 2 Water Tenders; 2 Dozers
KEY MESSAGE The Lee Fire remains 137,758 acres with 90 percent containment. Fire activity has been minimal, with no growth observed. An infrared (IR) flight detected only a few hot spots, all of which were well inside the fire’s edge. Recent rainfall has kept conditions favorable, though crews remain mindful of flash flooding and debris flows that may follow periods of heavy rain.
CURRENT STATUS Today, firefighters will continue patrols along the fire’s edge to ensure it remains within its footprint. Suppression repair is underway in several areas, including debris removal, with crews working closely with Resource Advisors to complete this work to agency standards and support long-term recovery. Progress remains steady as work continues toward full containment and recovery of the fire area.
WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR Widespread rain showers are expected on Friday morning and will continue through much of the day. Some heavier showers may produce lightning and thunder. Conditions are forecast to dry out by late afternoon, with clearing skies into the evening. The rainfall will help keep fire activity minimal, though crews will remain alert for lightning strikes and the potential for flash flooding or debris flows in and around the burn area.
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.
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3
Total acreage: 5,735 acres 5% contained 692 personnel
Many kinds of heavy equipment are used on the fire line to clear the area of consumable fuel. By removing trees and brush to mineral soil, they create “fuel breaks” that reduce the fire’s spread.
In this photo, a bulldozer works to scrape vegetation off the surface of the ground. Hand crews may work ahead of dozer operations as “boots on the ground” to cut trees and brush within the dozer’s path.
As of August 26th, there have been approximately 8 miles of bulldozer line put in along the south and west sides of the fire area.
Photo: Taken on the constructed bulldozer line on the Southeast corner of the Derby Fire. S. Rawding/Derby Fire
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3
Long term fire analyst, Erin Noonan-Wright, gives an extended outlook regarding fire behavior on the Derby Fire. A fire progression map illustrates the growth of the fire over time. The fire has spread primarily through a mixed conifer/subalpine fir fuel type, slowed in stands of aspen. Long term fire analysts consider trends in winds, rainfall, soil and fuels drought and historical fire behavior to make predictions about how and where the fire could grow.
Beginning today, the White River National Forest will reduce the public closure in the vicinity of the Derby Fire Colorado following several days of rain.
While the recent rainfall has reduced fire activity and provided much-needed assistance with fire suppression efforts, emergency managers are now closely monitoring for potential flooding and flash flooding in the burn area and surrounding communities. Forest visitors should stay aware of changing conditions, follow guidance from local authorities, and use caution when traveling through the area.
The new Forest Order reduces the Forest Closure to the area northeast of Sweetwater Lake continuing along the Derby Mesa Rim. A map and detailed description of the closure, including affected roads and trails, are available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/alerts.
Currently the Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District remains under Stage 2 Fire Restrictions, meaning no campfires are allowed anywhere in the District, among other restrictions. Fire managers will continue to monitor conditions and evaluate fire restrictions with local partners. For more information about fire restrictions on the White River National Forest, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/alerts. Â
Comunicado de prensa del Servicio Forestal
Contacto: Iris Salamanca, Oficial de Asuntos Públicos
El Bosque Nacional White River reduce el cierre del incendio Derby
Cierre en su lugar para proteger a los bomberos y la seguridad pública
EAGLE, Colo. (26 de agosto de 2025) – El Bosque Nacional White River reducirá el cierre público en las cercanÃas del incendio Derby luego de varios dÃas de lluvia a partir de mañana.
Mientras que las lluvias recientes han reducido la actividad de los incendios y han brindado una asistencia muy necesaria con los esfuerzos de extinción de incendios, los administradores de emergencias ahora están monitoreando de cerca posibles inundaciones e inundaciones repentinas en el área quemada y las comunidades circundantes. Los visitantes del bosque deben estar al tanto de las condiciones cambiantes, seguir las instrucciones de las autoridades locales y tener cuidado al viajar por el área.
La nueva Orden Forestal reduce el Cierre del Bosque al área noreste del Lago Sweetwater que continúa a lo largo del Derby Mesa Rim. Un mapa y una descripción detallada del cierre, incluidas las carreteras y senderos afectados, están disponibles en https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/alerts.
Actualmente, el Distrito de Guardabosques de Eagle-Holy Cross permanece bajo restricciones de incendios de Etapa 2, lo que significa que no se permiten fogatas en ningún lugar del Distrito, entre otras restricciones. Los administradores de incendios continuarán monitoreando las condiciones y evaluando las restricciones de incendios con socios locales. Para obtener más información sobre las restricciones de incendios en el Bosque Nacional White River, visite https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/alerts.
Location:Â 11 miles south of Meeker, Colorado Start Date:Â 08/02/2025 Cause:Â Lightning Size:Â Lee Fire: 137,758 acres Containment:Â Lee Fire: 90% 211 Total Personnel; 10 Engines; 2 Hand Crews; 2 Water Tenders; 2 Dozers
KEY MESSAGE
The reported acreage on the Lee Fire has been adjusted back to the original size noted earlier in the week, following improved mapping. The earlier increase was due to limitations in the previous data, which temporarily raised the estimate. With updated mapping complete, the acreage now accurately reflects the true fire size.
CURRENT STATUS
Yesterday, crews patrolled and secured the fire perimeter while completing suppression repair in coordination with Resource Advisors and local agencies, guided by the approved Suppression Repair Plan. The fire remained fully within its current footprint, and crews continued working both to strengthen containment and to begin repair in areas affected by suppression activities.
Fire activity was minimal, and work will continue in the coming days to ensure the area remains secureand repair objectives are met.
WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR
Showers and thunderstorms remain likely across the fire area over the next several days, with rainfall chances near 100%. Overnight and into the morning, widespread cloud cover with embedded showers is expected. If skies clear by midday, stronger thunderstorms could develop, increasing the risk of heavy rain and flash flooding. If cloud cover lingers, conditions will likely remain limited to lighter, intermittent rain with little lightning or strong winds.