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.
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3
Due to technology issues, we are unable to go Live with our briefing that was scheduled for 6:30 p.m. However, we are in the process of recording the full briefing from our fire experts and will have it posted to this channel as soon as possible.
If you have questions, you may type them in the comments once it’s posted, call our information line at 970-355-3283 or email us at 2025.derby@firenet.gov. We appreciate your patience and will continue working to get you up-to-date information.
After 14 days on the Elk and Lee Fires, the entire Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 3 would like to thank the communities of Meeker and Rifle for their support during challenging conditions. As Incident Commander Casey Cheesbrough shared, your encouragement meant a great deal to our firefighters.
We are transferring command to Northern Rockies Team 1 this evening at 5 p.m. While fire activity has moderated, hot and dry days are still ahead, and smoke will continue to be visible at times. It has been our privilege to serve your communities.
Crews made progress today with increased containment on the Lee Fire. An infrared flight using an unmanned aerial system (UAS) confirmed no heat outside of the fire perimeter. The fire was quiet, and firefighters will keep watch overnight.
Photo is an FVR-90 Type 1 UAS with a sensor capable of infrared to detect heat and ability to send videos back to the team in real time.
Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 3 is nearing the end of its 14-day assignment. Another team, the Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 1, has been mobilized to assume command of the fire. The new team will arrive tomorrow and shadow RMCIMT 3 to ensure a seamless transition in strategic firefighting and fire suppression repair operations. The new team will meet with each section of Team 3 and be provided with all transition information. They will take full control of the incidents on Tuesday morning.
IMTs are part of a national system of firefighting resources that are called in when the local fire situation exceeds the capacity of agency managers to handle. Each team is assigned for 14 days to ensure that team members have the opportunity to rest between assignments. This is essential for safe operations on an incident.
Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 3 would like to thank the communities of Rio Blanco and Garfield Counties for allowing us to serve you during this assignment.
Size: Elk Fire: 14,518 acres | Lee Fire: 137,465 acres Total Personnel: 1,155 Containment: Elk Fire: 100% | Lee Fire 42% Cause: Lightning Resources: 6 Aircraft | 25 Hand Crews | 78 Engines | 46 Heavy Equipment
Key message: Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 3 is nearing the end of its 14-day assignment. Another team, the Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 1 has been mobilized to assume command of the fire. The new team will arrive tomorrow and shadow RM CIMT Team 3 to ensure a seamless transition in strategic firefighting and fire suppression repair operations. Important Notes: The Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office downgraded several evacuation zones. Check your evacuation zone on the interactive map: http://bit.ly/lee-fire-zones. Highway 13 is open with a speed limit reduction of 50 mph. There is no stopping along the highway except in emergencies. Be aware that firefighters and utility personnel are working along the road.
Yesterday: Lee Fire – Firefighters secured containment line along the north and west edges of the fire perimeter, allowing officials to reopen Highway 13. Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) flights helped identify remaining heat along the northern perimeter of the fire. Crews patrolled, monitored, and removed hot spots along the fire perimeter. On the south side, the fire received a tenth to a half inch of rain. Firelines along County Road 5 held, and firefighters continued reinforcing those lines. Crews continue to strengthen contingency lines south of the fire with mastication equipment to reduce brush and vegetation.
Elk Fire – Increased moisture and humidity supported firefighter efforts in reaching 100% containment on the Elk Fire. Evaluation and implementation of suppression repair work continued.
Current Situation: Lee Fire – Islands of unburned fuel remain active near County Road 5 on the south side of the fire, with heat and isolated torching. Firefighters will continue to mop up to remove heat and strengthen firelines. Crews are working to protect structures and other values at risk while reinforcing containment lines in those areas. Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3 is coordinating closely with the Bureau of Land Management and other agencies to plan repair that meets established standards.
Elk Fire: Suppression repair efforts for the Elk Fire are underway. Crews are pulling soil back over contingency lines and scattering vegetation to restore areas affected by firefighting operations. This process aims to restore areas impacted to their original, pre-fire condition. Weather & Fire Behavior: Temperatures will reach the mid-80s with west/southwest winds 6-12 mph and gusts up to 20 mph. Isolated afternoon showers are possible. A drying trend is expected from tonight through mid-week. Fuel moisture remains low, and significant precipitation would be needed to return levels to normal.
Notas importantes: La Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de RÃo Blanco degradó varias zonas de evacuación. Verifique su zona de evacuación en el mapa interactivo: http://bit.ly/lee-fire-zones. La autopista 13 está abierta con una reducción del lÃmite de velocidad de 50 mph. No hay paradas a lo largo de la carretera, excepto en caso de emergencia. Tenga en cuenta que los bomberos y el personal de servicios públicos están trabajando a lo largo de la carretera.
Incendio Elk – El aumento de la humedad y la humedad apoyó los esfuerzos de los bomberos para alcanzar el 100% de contención en el incendio Elk. Continuó la evaluación y ejecución de los trabajos de reparación de la supresión.
Situación actual: Incendio Lee – Las islas de combustible sin quemar permanecen activas cerca de County Road 5 en el lado sur del incendio, con calor y quemas aisladas. Los bomberos continuarán limpiando para eliminar el calor y fortalecer las lÃneas de fuego. Las cuadrillas están trabajando para proteger las estructuras y otros valores en riesgo mientras refuerzan las lÃneas de contención en esas áreas. El Equipo 3 de Manejo de Incidentes del Complejo del Ãrea de las Montañas Rocosas está coordinando estrechamente con la Oficina de Administración de Tierras y otras agencias para planificar una reparación que cumpla con los estándares establecidos.
Incendio Elk – Los esfuerzos de reparación de supresión para el incendio Elk están en marcha. Las cuadrillas están retirando la tierra sobre las lÃneas de contingencia y esparciendo vegetación para restaurar las áreas afectadas por las operaciones de extinción de incendios. Este proceso tiene como objetivo restaurar las áreas afectadas a su condición original anterior al incendio.
Comportamiento del clima y el fuego: Las temperaturas alcanzarán los 80 grados con vientos del oeste / suroeste de 6 a 12 mph y ráfagas de hasta 20 mph. Es posible que se produzcan lluvias aisladas por la tarde. Se espera una tendencia a la sequÃa desde esta noche hasta mediados de semana. La humedad del combustible sigue siendo baja y se necesitarÃan precipitaciones significativas para que los niveles vuelvan a la normalidad.
Evacuaciones y cierres: CR 5 permanece cerrado. Para obtener información precisa y actualizada sobre evacuaciones y cierres de carreteras para el condado de RÃo Blanco, visite la página de Facebook de la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de RÃo Blanco en: https://www.facebook.com/RioBlancoCountySheriffsOffice. Para obtener actualizaciones del condado de Garfield , visite: https://www.garfieldcounty.net/. La información sobre el cierre del Bosque Nacional White River está disponible en: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/alerts. Información sobre cierres de la oficina de campo de BLM White River en: https://ow.ly/78uF50WGjNW.
