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.
Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3
Afternoon update for Lee Fire August 9, 2025
The southeast portion of the Lee Fire is becoming more active near County Road 60 and Highway 13 as the afternoon red flag warning weather patterns continue. Resources are in place to defend critical values and private residences. Air operations will support strategic firing operations as weather permits.
Size: Elk Fire: 14,502 acres | Lee Fire: 88,755 Containment: Elk Fire: 8% | Lee Fire: 0% Total Personnel: 1,245 Cause: Lightning Resources: 13 Aircraft | 62 Engines | 21 Hand Crews | 13 Heavy Equipment Important Notes: All updates related to the Elk and Lee Fires will be posted at: https://www.facebook.com/elkleefire/.
Road closures and evacuation notices for Rio Blanco County will still be posted on the Rio Blanco Sheriff Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/RioBlancoCountySheriffsOffice.
Evacuation information for Garfield County will be posted on the Garfield County Sheriff’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/GarcoSheriff.
Yesterday: Lee Fire – Pyrocumulus clouds developed as a result of extreme fire behavior induced by high winds and extremely dry vegetation. It moved rapidly to the southeast, resulting in some spotting across CR 5. The fire did not cross into Garfield County however, the increase in activity initiated pre-evacuations in Garfield County. Aerial resources were utilized in the morning until increased winds in the early afternoon impacted the accuracy of water drops and eventually grounded the aircraft. Fire resources worked through the night to protect structures along CR 5. Firefighters conducted point protection around structures utilizing engines and dozers through the night.
Elk Fire: Smoke from the Lee Fire shaded the Elk Fire and reduced fire behavior allowing firefighters to further reinforce firelines. Structure protection resources continued monitoring and reinforcing around structures through the night.
Current Situation: Lee Fire – Firefighter and aerial resources are focusing on the spotting that occurred across CR 5 to contain the spots and keep the fire from spreading toward Hwy 13 and into Garfield County. Fire resources will continue structure protection around homes and other values at risk. Firefighters are patrolling and mopping up hot spots along the perimeter on the Hogback ridge.
Elk Fire: Firefighters will continue 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. Weather & Fire Behavior: A Red Flag Warning is in effect from 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Temperatures will range in the low to mid-80’s. Humidity’s will fall in the low teens. Winds will shift to the north/northeast mid-morning until early evening. These weather conditions along with the dry fuels are conducive to extreme fire behavior.
Evacuations and closures: Go to the Rio Branco County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/RioBlancoCountySheriffsOffice – for accurate up-to-date information on all evacuations and road closures. To sign up for emergency alerts at: https://rioblancoalerts.genasys.com/portal/en.
For Garfield County go to: https://www.garfieldcounty.net/. White River National Forest closure information at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/alerts. BLM White River Field Office closures information at: https://www.blm.gov/announcement/blm-colorado-issues-emergency-closure-public-lands-rio-blanco-county. Air Quality: Current air quality for your area can be found at fire.airnow.gov.
Elk and Lee Fire Information: Phone: 970-341-8665; Email: 2025.elkrbx@firenet.gov Facebook: www.facebook.com/elkleefire Iniciweb Lee Fire: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/cowrd-lee-fire Inciweb Elk Fire: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/cowrd-elk-rbx-fire
New zones moved to SET status
8.9.25, 10:01 am – Zones 70 and 71: Due to the Lee Fire, you are in SET status. Prepare for sudden evacuation orders issued by Garfield County Sheriff’s Office. You will receive another message if you are updated to GO status. Check your zone on this map.
8.9.25, 6:58 a.m. – New EVACUATION STATUS in Garfield County: Zones 80 and 81 are now in SET status. This is to the south of the fire in the northern edge of Garfield County. BE READY to evacuate with short notice from these zones. Prepare now.
8.9.25, 8:17 a.m. – The Lee Fire is producing smoke that is affecting air quality in Garfield County. Visit Air Now to understand if it’s safe to be active outdoors. Be smoke ready and know what steps you can take to protect yourself. If possible, have backup plans to avoid outdoor activities when smoke is thick, and know how to keep your indoor air clean.
Official and verified
