Lee Fire: Fire activity minimal, flash flood risk

FDNY Incident Management Team

Incident Commander Mike Burke


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.

8-29-25 Lee Fire morning update map

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.

For Garfield County updates go to: https://www.garfieldcounty.net/.

USFS White River National Forest and BLM closure rescission information is available
at: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-closures/cowrd-lee-fire

Lee Fire: Fire activity minimal, flash flood risk

Derby Fire: Quick facts – August 29

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.

8-29-25 Derby Fire dozer

Photo: Taken on the constructed bulldozer line on the Southeast corner of the Derby Fire. S. Rawding/Derby Fire

Derby Fire: Quick facts – August 29

Derby Fire: Long term analysis

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.

Derby Fire: Long term analysis

Derby Fire: You can help this way

Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 3

Thank you, Derby Fire community!

Derby Fire thank you sign from local kids

Our crews are fully supplied, so we cannot accept food or other donations.

Want to help?

  1. Create defensible space.
  2. Respect closures.
  3. Put thank you signs on your property or other permitted roadside spots and remove them later.
  4. Support your local fire department, Red Cross, or the Wildland Firefighter Foundation
Derby Fire ways to help
Derby Fire: You can help this way

Lee Fire: Operations update – August 27

FDNY Incident Management Team and Rio Blanco Sheriff’s Office

RIO BLANCO SHERIFF: COUNTY ROAD 5 INFORMATION – County road 5 from HWY 13- MM 12 is not passable due to mudslides at this time.

August 27, 2025, Operational Briefing with FDNY IMT Operations Section Mike Izzo and Incident Meteorologist Julie Malingowski:

Lee Fire: Operations update – August 27

Derby Fire: White River National Forest reduces closure

White River National Forest

Derby Fire news release – English
Derby Fire news release – Spanish
Derby Fire area closure

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.

8-27-25 White River National Forest map

The latest information about the Derby Fire is available at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident…/cowrf-derby-fire and https://www.facebook.com/DerbyFire.

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.  

Comunicado de prensa del Servicio Forestal

Contacto: Iris Salamanca, Oficial de Asuntos Públicos

iris.salamanca@usda.gov 

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 cercanías del incendio Derby luego de varios días 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.  

La información más reciente sobre el incendio de Derby está disponible en https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/cowrf-derby-fire y https://www.facebook.com/DerbyFire.

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.  

Derby Fire: White River National Forest reduces closure

Lee Fire: Update August 27, 2025

FDNY Incident Management Team

Incident Commander Mike Burke

8-27-25 Morning update
8-27-25 Morning map

Location: 11 miles south of Meeker, Colorado
Start Date: 08/02/2025
Cause: Lightning Size: Lee Fire: 137,758 acres
Containment: 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.

CLOSURES AND SPECIAL MESSAGES

For accurate up-to-date information on evacuations and road closures for Rio Blanco County go to theRio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/RioBlancoCountySheriffsOffice.

For Garfield County updates go to: https://www.garfieldcounty.net/.

USFS White River National Forest and BLM closure rescission information is available at: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-closures/cowrd-lee-fire

Lee Fire: Update August 27, 2025

Lee Fire: Operational briefing August 26

FDNY Incident Management Team

August 26, 2025, Operational Briefing with Operations Section Mike Izzo

Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office
BLM Colorado Fire
Bureau of Land Management Fire
Bureau of Land Management – Colorado
Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control
U.S. Forest Service – White River National Forest
Garfield County Sheriff’s Office – Colorado

Lee Fire: Operational briefing August 26

Derby Fire: Community meeting video

Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3

Derby Fire Community Meeting video – Gypsum, CO August 25, 2025

 

Derby Fire official information

FACEBOOK – Derby fire @derbyfire
INCIWEB – Derby Fire
WHITE RIVER NATIONAL FOREST – facebook.com/whiteriverNF @whiteriverNF

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EAGLE COUNTY INFO
DERBY FIRE: EAGLE COUNTY EVACUATION MAP
REGISTER FOR ALERTS – 911 alerts
INCIDENT UPDATES – EC Emergency or Reachwell app
FACEBOOK – facebook.com/eaglecountyso @eaglecountyso

________________

GARFIELD COUNTY INFO
DERBY FIRE: GARFIELD COUNTY INTERACTIVE EVACUATION MAP
REGISTER FOR ALERTS – 911 alerts or Reachwell app
INCIDENT UPDATES / SUBSCRIBE – Garfield County emergency
FACEBOOK – facebook.com/garcosheriff @garcosheriff

Derby Fire: Community meeting video