Colorado River Fire Rescue Lee Fire Update – Zones 72 & 73 in READY Status
Colorado River Fire Rescue (CRFR) is advising residents in Evacuation Zones 72 and 73 that they are now in READY status under the Ready, Set, Go evacuation model. While there is no immediate threat to homes in these zones at this time, conditions can change quickly, and residents should be fully prepared to act if evacuation levels increase.
What READY Status Means:
You are not currently being asked to leave your home, but you should be fully prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice.
This is the time to make preparations, gather essentials, and ensure your household is evacuation-ready.
How to Be Prepared While in READY Status:
Know your zone and stay informed through official alerts and updates.
Gather your emergency go-kit with essentials such as medications, important documents, clothing, food, water, and pet supplies.
Prepare your home by removing flammable materials from around your structure and making sure all windows and doors can be secured quickly.
Have a communication plan so all family members know where to meet and how to contact each other.
Plan your evacuation route and have at least one backup route in case roads are closed.
CRFR is here for our citizens and ready for any and all emergencies. Our crews are actively prepared and ready for any and all fire response efforts, are monitoring current conditions, and working closely with partner agencies to ensure the safety of our community.
We urge all residents in READY status to take this time seriously and be prepared. Your quick action can help keep you and your loved ones safe if conditions change.
Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3
8.10.25, 6:59 p.m. – The weather, coupled with drought conditions, continues to create challenges for firefighters on the southern end of the Lee Fire. As the fire continues to move, fire managers are preparing a strategic plan of the expected movement. Scouting for contingency lines was part of today’s operations for the Divisions on the south end of the fire. Supported by air resources, including dropping retardant, firefighters continue to work to strengthen lines around Highway 13 and County Road 5. Please continue to monitor trusted sources for information.
The official sources for fire information for the Elk and Lee Fires are:
GARFIELD COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE – An IPAWS message sent by Moffat County was received by some residents in Garfield County and included information about lifted evacuations. This is NOT related to the Lee Fire and no statuses in Garfield County have changed.
Current status by zone is as follows: Zone 70-GO Zones 71/80/81-SET Zones 72/73-READY
You will receive another message if your zone status is changed.
Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority
We’ve had lots of questions about the #GarCo911 Emergency Alerting System, so here’s what you should know:
Purpose – Alerts are sent only for serious threats to life or safety, when you need to take action (evacuate, shelter in place, avoid an area). The only exception is opt-in community messages like road closures or air quality updates. Alerts are not for general updates or information.
How It Works – Using geotargeting, alerts go to people with addresses in their Everbridge account identified as being affected by responders on scene. This may be a radius from an address or a shape drawn onto a map to capture specific roads, subdivisions, or areas described by responders.
Caller ID Tip – Messages won’t show “911” on caller ID. Save the number that sends you alerts in your contacts as GarCo911 so you recognize it.
IPAWS Alerts – Like Amber Alerts, these target phones near an incident using cell towers. It’s not perfect—some outside the area may get them, some inside may not. Make sure Emergency and Public Safety Alerts are ON in your phone settings.
Read the Whole Message – We always include location details so you can tell if it affects you.
No Service or Internet? – IPAWS alerts also play on AM radio via the National Weather Service.
Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority
Follow official sources
8.10.25, 3:00 p.m. – We know many people use WatchDuty to follow wildfire activity. It’s a fantastic tool for situational awareness, and we appreciate the dedicated volunteers who help keep it updated.
However, WatchDuty is a third-party app — meaning it is not an official emergency alert source. While it’s great for general awareness, the information is not verified by official sources and may be delayed or incomplete.
Emergency Notifications come directly from your local 911 center in coordination with responders on the ground. These alerts are:
Official and verified
Issued only for serious, confirmed threats to life or safety
Designed to tell you exactly what action to take (evacuate, shelter in place, avoid an area, etc.)
Bottom line:
WatchDuty can be used to monitor developing situations but should NOT be used in place of official, local sources. Be aware that information may not be timely, accurate, complete, and that things like maps are not coming directly from the official source.
Sign up for emergency notifications at garco911.com, follow @GarCo911 and @GarcoSheriff as well your local Police Department social media page, and check the Garfield County Emergency Operations Center website (www.garfieldcounty.net) for official instructions you can trust when seconds matter.
Make sure your Everbridge account is up to date and that Emergency and Public Safety Alerts are ON in your phone settings so you don’t miss critical messages.
Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3
Afternoon update from the Lee Fire
Crews continue to work hard along Highway 13, prioritizing point protection and prepping along the highway. Smoke could be dense in areas including CR 5, 1-70 and Highway 13 corridors. A pyrocumulus cloud may be visible later in the day.
Rifle Police Department and City of Rifle Parks and Recreation
Closure notice – Due to poor air quality in the area and out of an abundance of caution, Rifle Mountain Park is closed to the public effective immediately. Please avoid the area until further notice for your safety.
Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3
8.10.25, 12:03 p.m. – GARFIELD COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE – Zones 72 and 73: Due to the Lee Fire, you are in READY (GREEN) status – possible evacuation in your area. Prepare, monitor, and pack valuables. You will receive another message if your zone status is changed. Check your zone on this INTERACTIVE EVACUATION MAP (search your address).
Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3
Fire update document | Fire map document Size: Elk Fire: 14,635 acres | Lee Fire: 106,672 acres Total Personnel: 1,036 Containment: Elk Fire: 9% | Lee Fire 6% Cause: Lightning Resources: 14 Aircraft | 23 Hand Crews | 51 Engines | 6 Heavy Equipment Important Notes: Today, with winds coming from the north/northwest, the Rifle community in the I-70 corridor will see smoke from the Lee Fire. Due to mostly clear skies, fire activity is expected to increase early in the day. For the latest air quality in your area, visit fire.airnow.gov.
Yesterday: Lee Fire – Red Flag Warning weather conditions caused more extreme fire behavior in the Lee Fire. Winds coming from the northwest pushed the fire to the south and east. Fire personnel attempted to catch spot fires as the fire was progressing south with some success. All aircraft were utilized during the day to assist in these efforts. Values at risk, which includes private residences, were the main priority to protect from the fire’s spread. Firefighters on the west side of the fire were successful with strategic firing operations along the highway 13 corridor to continue reinforcing the line. Firefighters in the north and northeast side of the fire were successful in strengthening firelines and building confidence in the holdings that were put in.
Elk Fire: Firefighters have been able to build upon previous efforts to continue strengthening fireline. The Elk Fire has benefitted from cloud coverage and firefighters have taken advantage of the lower fire activity. Continued mop-up and structure protection has worked well especially along the County Road 8 corridor.
Current Situation: Lee Fire – Firefighters will continue efforts of point protection for structures at risk. The southern end of the fire is well-staffed and prepared for more extreme fire behavior moving south. Fire resources are looking ahead strategically as they plan out for the next several days looking for areas of opportunity. The primary objective is to keep the fire west of Hwy 13 and north of CR 5. Under current conditions, this will prove to be a challenge to firefighters.
Elk Fire: Firefighters will continue to patrol and mop up containment lines to keep the fire from further spread. Structure protection resources will remain in place around residences and other values at risk. As progress is being made on the Elk Fire resources will be moved to assist with Lee Fire operations.
Weather & Fire Behavior: Near-critical fire weather will return today, this will include low relative humidity, periods of gusty winds from the north/northwest and lack of cloud coverage. The very dry fuels with the expected weather could result in extreme fire behavior in some areas of the Lee Fire.
Official and verified
