Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3
Today marks the wrap-up of operations at the Livestock Evacuation Center in Eagle County. Many residents have safely picked up their animals and returned home. We’re grateful to everyone who helped care for these animals during the fire response, and to the community for their support. The Small Animal Shelter remains open for anyone who still needs a safe place for pets.
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3, Incident Commander Mike Behrens
Location: 13 miles north of Dotsero, CO Start Date: 8/16/2025; Cause: Lightning Size: Est. 5,723 acres Completion/Containment: 4% 864 total personnel
KEY MESSAGE:
The Colorado River, Sweetwater, and Red Dirt Creek roads have all been reopened. The Garfield and Eagle County Sheriff’s Offices have changed the evacuation status for Sweetwater Valley and Sheep Creek and Red Dirt Creek areas to pre-evacuation (READY) status. The Forest Service and BLM have both reduced the size of their closure areas. Firefighters have built almost 11 miles of control lines, and the Derby Fire has been declared 4% contained.
CURRENT STATUS:
Showers have temporarily moderated fire activity this week, but incident managers predict wildfire activity will increase again when the weather warms and fuels dry out. Firefighters have constructed almost 11 miles of handlines and dozerlines along the east, south, and west fire perimeters. The Derby Fire has been declared 4% contained. The term “containment” is used when fire managers are confident that wind and weather conditions will not push the fire past completed control lines. Crews will work to strengthen and widen fire lines as weather and conditions allow. Air support is scouting for potential helispot sites, and structure protection crews are continuing to improve fire defenses around more than 500 structures along Sweetwater Road and Red Dirt Creek Road.
WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR:
Incident meteorologists predict that showers will continue Wednesday and probably through the rest of this week before warmer weather returns early next week. Daytime smoke and nighttime fire glows may be visible at times when fuels dry out and fire activity increases.
CLOSURES AND SPECIAL MESSAGES:
The Colorado River, Sweetwater, and Red Dirt Creek Roads have all been reopened, and the Garfield County and Eagle County Sheriff’s Offices have changed the evacuation status for Sweetwater Valley, Sheep Creek and Red Dirt Creek areas to pre-evacuation (READY) status. More evacuation information is available at https://arcg.is/S0u4G and www.ecemergency.org.
Equipo 3 de Gestión de Incidentes Complejos de las Montañas Rocosas del Norte, Comandante de Incidente Mike Behrens
Ubicación: 13 millas al oeste de Dotsero, CO Fecha de inicio: 08/16/2025; Causa: Rayos Tamaño: Est. 5723 acres Finalización/Contención: 4% 864 Personal total
MENSAJE CLAVE:
Se han reabierto los caminos Colorado River Road, Sweetwater Road y Red Dirt Creek Road. Las Oficinas del Sheriff del Condado de Garfield y del Condado de Eagle han cambiado el estado de evacuación de las áreas de Sweetwater Valley, Sheep Creek y Red Dirt Creek a pre-evacuación (LISTOS). El Servicio Forestal y la Oficina de Administración de Tierras (BLM por sus siglas en inglés) han reducido el tamaño de sus zonas de cierre. Los bomberos han construido casi 11 millas de líneas de control, y el incendio Derby ha sido declarado contenido en un 4%.
ESTADO ACTUAL:
Las lluvias han moderado temporalmente la actividad del incendio esta semana, pero los administradores del incidente predicen que la actividad del incendio aumentará de nuevo cuando el clima mejore y los combustibles se sequen. Los bomberos han construido casi 11 millas de líneas de mano y líneas de excavadora a lo largo de los perímetros este, sur y oeste del incendio. El incendio Derby ha sido declarado contenido en un 4%. El término “contención” se utiliza cuando los administradores del incendio confían en que las condiciones del viento y el clima no extenderán el incendio más allá de las líneas de control ya establecidas. Los equipos trabajarán para reforzar y ampliar las líneas de control según lo permitan el clima y las condiciones. El apoyo aéreo está explorando posibles ubicaciones para helipuertos, y los equipos de protección de estructuras continúan mejorando las defensas contra incendios en torno a más de 500 estructuras a lo largo de Sweetwater Road y Red Dirt Creek Road.
COMPORTAMIENTO DEL CLIMA Y EL FUEGO
Los meteorólogos del incidente pronostican que las lluvias continuarán el miércoles y probablemente durante el resto de la semana, antes de que el clima sea más cálido a principios de la próxima semana. Es posible que se observen humo diurno y resplandores de fuego nocturno cuando los combustibles se sequen y aumente la actividad del incendio.
CIERRES Y MENSAJES ESPECIALES
Se han reabierto los caminios Colorado River Road, Sweetwater Road y Red Dirt Creek. Los condados Eagle y Garfield han cambiado el estado de evacuación para los residentes de Sweetwater Valley, Sheep Creek, y Red Dirt Creek a “LISTOS”, la etapa 1 del proceso de evacuaciones que significa que “esté preparados”. Para más información, incluido dónde refugiarse y recursos para mascotas y ganado, visite https://arcg.is/S0u4G o https://sites.google.com/eaglec…/ecemergencyespanol/inicio.
El Servicio Forestal y el BLM han reducido el tamaño de sus áreas de cierre. La orden de cierre y el mapa del Bosque Nacional White River están publicados en https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver. La orden de cierre y el mapa de la Oficina de Campo del Valle del Río Colorado de BLM se publican en https://www.blm.gov/…/blm-issues-land-closure-garfield…. Existe una restricción temporal de vuelo (TFR por sus siglas en inglés) sobre el incendio de Derby.
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3
#DerbyFire Ops Update Monday morning, Aug. 27, 2025. Philip Knaub, Operations Sections Chief, discusses firefighting tactics on the Derby Fire. The Derby Fire is now 4% contained. Firefighters were able to access the southeast fire perimeter yesterday and are confident that any changes in weather conditions will not push the fire over the control line in this area. Look for a black line on the fire map to illustrate containment. Rain reached most areas of the fire yesterday, however, dead and down trees continue to hold heat. Large fuels are slow to accept moisture and will continue to smolder. As the weather dries out later this week, we expect to see more active fire behavior. On the east and west sides of the fire perimeter, firefighters are scouting for opportunities to continue to build line with handcrews and heavy equipment.
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3
Derby Fire Weather update 8-27-2025
Incident Meteorologist, Ryan Fliehman, discusses the upcoming weather forecast. Light rain is expected throughout the morning today, with a chance of thunderstorms this afternoon. This wet pattern will continue through Thursday, with a slow drying trend beginning on Friday, extending through the weekend.
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3
The #DerbyFire gained almost two hundred more personnel over recent days, primarily additional handcrews and engines. Resource needs are evaluated daily and increased or decreased depending on the needs of the fire. When local and regional resources are already engaged responding to fires, resources may come from all over the country to assist. Personnel may serve up to 14-21 day shifts before they’re required to come off an incident to rest. #FireYear2025
Photo: A Florida Suppression Module gather for a photo where they were organizing and preparing structure protection equipment in the Sweetwater Canyon area during the rains on Monday, August 25, 2025. S.Rawding/Derby Fire.
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3, Incident Commander Mike Behrens
Location: 13 miles north of Dotsero, CO Start Date: 8/16/2025; Cause: Lightning Size: Est. 5,346 acres Completion/Containment: 0% 844 total personnel
Key Message:
Coffeepot Road can again be accessed from its intersection with Colorado River Rd, as the southern end of the Colorado River Road closure has been moved northward. The Garfield County and Eagle County Sheriff’s Offices have changed the evacuation status for Sweetwater Valley and Sheep Creek to pre-evacuation (SET) status.
Current Status:
Wetting rain fell across the Derby Fire on Monday morning, and fire behavior has temporarily moderated across the area. However incident managers predict wildfire activity will increase again when the weather warms and fuels dry out. Firefighters are continuing to build control lines along the east, south, and west flanks from a network of roads, dozer line, and hand line. They will work to strengthen and widen those fire lines as weather and conditions allow. About three quarters of the recent growth on the eastern perimeter has been halted with new control lines. Structure protection crews are working along Red Dirt Creek Road. Across the fire they have prepared over 500 structures by positioning sprinkler kits and removing surrounding fuels. Incident managers held a community meeting Monday evening to engage the public and answer questions.
Weather and Fire Behavior:
Wetting rains fell on the Derby Fire on Monday morning, and there is a strong likelihood that the rains will continue on Tuesday and throughout the week. Daytime smoke and nighttime fire glows may be visible at times when fuels dry out and fire activity increases.
Closures and Special Messages:
Garfield and Eagle Counties have changed the evacuation status for Sweetwater Valley and Sheep Creek to pre-evacuation (SET). Zones GYF-263, 266-A, 267, 300, 366, and 369 are also in pre-evacuation status. More evacuation information is available at https://arcg.is/S0u4G and www.ecemergency.org, including where to shelter and resources for pets and livestock.
Coffeepot Road can again be accessed from its intersection with Colorado River Road, as the southern end of the Colorado River Road closure has been moved northward to a site just past its intersection with Coffeepot. Beyond that, Colorado River Road remains closed to non-residents and unapproved traffic through its intersection with Red Dirt Creek Road.
The Forest Service and BLM have both issued public closure orders in the vicinity of the fire to protect public and firefighter safety. The White River National Forest’s closure order and map are posted at https://www.fs.usda.gov/…/expanded-derby-fire-closure. The BLM Colorado River Valley Field Office’s closure order and map are posted at https://www.blm.gov/…/blm-issues-land-closure-garfield…. A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the Derby Fire.
Please see the attached photo for today’s smoke outlook.
Equipo 3 de Gestión de Incidentes Complejos de las Montañas Rocosas del Norte, Comandante de Incidente Mike Behrens
Ubicación: 13 millas al oeste de Dotsero, CO Fecha de inicio: 08/16/2025; Causa: Rayos Tamaño: Est. 5346 acres Finalización/Contención: 0% 844 Personal total
Mensaje clave:
Se puede acceder nuevamente a Coffeepot Road desde su intersección con Colorado River Road, ya que el extremo sur del cierre de Colorado River Road se ha trasladado hacia el norte. Las Oficinas del condado de Eagle y del Sheriff del Condado de Garfield han cambiado el estado de evacuación de Sweetwater Valley y Sheep Creek a estado “LISTOS”, la etapa 2 que significa del proceso de evacuaciones que significa “prepárese y esté alerta”.
Estado actual:
El lunes por la mañana cayó lluvia torrencial sobre el incendio Derby, y el comportamiento del fuego se ha moderado temporalmente en toda la zona. Sin embargo, los administradores de incidentes predicen que la actividad de incendios forestales aumentará de nuevo cuando el clima mejore y los combustibles se sequen. Los bomberos continúan construyendo líneas de control a lo largo de los flancos este, sur y oeste a partir de una red de carreteras, una línea de excavadoras y una línea de mano. Trabajarán para reforzar y ampliar estas líneas de control según lo permitan el clima y las condiciones. Aproximadamente tres cuartas partes del reciente crecimiento en el perímetro este se han detenido con nuevas líneas de control. Los equipos de protección de estructuras están trabajando a lo largo de Red Dirt Creek Road. Al otro lado del incendio, han preparado más de 500 estructuras mediante la instalación de equipos de rociadores y la retirada de los combustibles circundantes. Los gestores de incidentes organizaron una reunión comunitaria el lunes por la noche para interactuar con el público y responder preguntas.
Comportamiento del clima y el fuego
El lunes por la mañana cayeron lluvias torrenciales sobre el incendio Derby, y es muy probable que continúen el martes y durante toda la semana. Es posible que se observe humo diurno y destellos nocturnos del fuego cuando los combustibles se sequen y aumente la actividad del incendio.
Cierres y mensajes especiales
Los condados Eagle y Garfield han cambiado el estado de evacuación para los residentes de Sweetwater Valley y Sheep Creek a “SET”, la etapa 2 del proceso de evacuaciones que significa “prepárese y esté alerta”. Las zonas GYF-263, 266-A, 267, 300, 366 y 369 están en estado previo a la evacuación. Para más información, incluido dónde refugiarse y recursos para mascotas y ganado, visite https://arcg.is/S0u4G o https://sites.google.com/eaglec…/ecemergencyespanol/inicio.
El Colorado River Road permanece cerrado para todos aquellos que no sean residentes y el tráfico no autorizado en la rotonda al norte de Dotsero hasta Red Dirt Road. Tenga en cuenta que no se puede acceder a Coffeepot Road desde su intersección con Colorado River Road.
El Servicio Forestal y BLM han emitido órdenes de cierre público en las cercanías del incendio para proteger la seguridad pública y de los bomberos. La orden de cierre y el mapa del Bosque Nacional White River están publicados en https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver. La orden de cierre y el mapa de la Oficina de Campo del Valle del Río Colorado de BLM se publican en https://www.blm.gov/…/blm-issues-land-closure-garfield…. Existe una restricción temporal de vuelo (TFR por sus siglas en inglés) sobre el incendio de Derby.
The photos below illustrate the Derby Fire Daily update, available in English and Spanish, the public information fire map for the day, evacuation and closure map and today’s smoke outlook. These documents are also available on the Derby Fire Inciweb website here: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident…/cowrf-derby-fire
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3
Derby Fire Weather update 8-26-2025
Incident Meteorologist, Jason Straub, discusses the upcoming weather forecast. Monsoon moisture is coming in to the area, starting this morning and into the afternoon. We are expecting 1/10 to 2/10 inch of rain. The National Weather Service station in Grand Junction, CO has issued a flash flood warning. These rainfall rates could produce flash floods and debris flows. Rain is expected to continue tomorrow with drier air moving in later this week.
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3
#DerbyFire Ops Update Monday morning, Aug. 26, 2025
Operations Section Chief, Philip Knaub, discusses firefighting tactics on the Derby Fire. Due to the weather last night, we were unable to fly an infrared flight to map the fire perimeter. As the rain cleared yesterday afternoon, firefighters were access the southwest and east sides of the fireline and found no significant fire growth. As weather allows today, scouting will continue on the west side of the fire to look for opportunities to build direct fireline from the southwest up. Structure protection efforts continue in the Sweetwater drainage. Structure assessment and protection work will be ongoing along Red Dirt Creek Road on the east side. Firefighters will continue to monitor and assess the fireline to ensure the fire is not progressing.
Location: 13 miles north of Dotsero, CO Start Date: 8/16/2025; Cause: Lightning Size: Est. 5346 acres Completion/Containment: 0% 648 total personnel
Key Message:
A Community Meeting will be held Monday, Aug. 25, 6:30 PM at the Gypsum Town Hall. It will be live streamed on the Derby Fire Facebook page and simulcast in Spanish on https://www.youtube.com/@DerbyFireInformation.
The Garfield County and Eagle County Sheriff’s Offices have changed the evacuation status for Sweetwater Valley and Sheep Creek to pre-evacuation (SET) status.
Current Status:
About three quarters of the recent growth on the fire’s southeast flank has been halted with new control lines.
The fire is growing slowly on other parts of its south perimeter, where firefighters are constructing control lines from a network of roads, dozer line, and hand line. On Sunday they worked to strengthen and widen those fire lines and will continue through the next several days as weather and conditions permit. Structure protection crews are working along Red Dirt Creek Road. Across the fire they have prepared over 500 structures by positioning sprinkler kits and removing surrounding fuels. Air support assisted by dropping flame retardant and water on the fire’s southeast flank.
Weather and Fire Behavior:
On Sunday, light but wetting rains fell on the Derby Fire, and the chance for monsoonal rain possibly accompanied by lighting will continue through most of the week. Daytime smoke and nighttime fire glows may be visible.
Closures and Special Messages:
Garfield and Eagle Counties have changed the evacuation status for Sweetwater Valley and Sheep Creek to pre-evacuation (SET). Zones GYF-263, 266-A, 267, 300, 366, and 369 are in pre-evacuation status. More evacuation information is available at https://arcg.is/S0u4G and www.ecemergency.org, including where to shelter and resources for pets and livestock.
The Colorado River Rd remains closed to non-residents and unapproved traffic at the roundabout north of Dotsero to Red Dirt Rd. Note that Coffeepot Rd. cannot be accessed from its intersection with Colorado River Rd.
Cows grazing in the foreground with staged fire engines while the Derby Fire burns across the foothills in the background. Photo by Matt Butler/Derby Fire.
Equipo 3 de Gestión de Incidentes Complejos de las Montañas Rocosas del Norte,
Comandante de Incidente Mike Behrens
Ubicación: 13 millas al oeste de Dotsero, CO Fecha de inicio: 08/16/2025; Causa: Rayos Tamaño: Est. 5346 acres Finalización/Contención: 0% 648 Personal total
Mensaje clave:
Habrá una reunióncomunitaria el lunes, el 25 de agosto a las 6:30pm en el Gypsum Town Hall. Se transmitirá en vivo por la página de Facebook de Derby Fire y simultáneamente en español en https://www.youtube.com/@DerbyFireInformation. Las Oficinas del Condado de Eagle y del Sheriff del Condado de Garfield han cambiado el estado de evacuación de Sweetwater Valley y Sheep Creek a “LISTOS”, la etapa 2 del proceso de evacuaciones que significa “prepárese y esté alerta”.
Estado actual:
Aproximadamente tres cuartas partes del reciente crecimiento en el flanco sureste del incendio se han detenido con nuevas líneas de control. El incendio crece lentamente en otras partes de su perímetro sur, donde los bomberos están construyendo líneas de control a partir de una red de carreteras, una línea de excavadoras y una línea de mano. El domingo, trabajaron para reforzar y ampliar estas líneas de control y continuarán durante los próximos días si el clima y las condiciones lo permiten. Los equipos de protección de estructuras trabajan a lo largo de Red Dirt Creek Road. Al otro lado del incendio, han preparado más de 500 estructuras mediante la instalación de equipos de rociadores y la retirada de los combustibles circundantes. Se brindó apoyo aéreo con el lanzamiento de retardante de llama y agua en el flanco sureste del incendio.
Comportamiento del clima y el fuego
El domingo, cayeron lluvias sobre el incendio de Derby, y la probabilidad de lluvias monzónicas, posiblemente acompañadas de rayos, continuará durante la mayor parte de la semana. Podría verse humo diurno y resplandores de incendios nocturnos.
Cierres y mensajes especiales
Los condados Eagle y Garfield han cambiado el estado de evacuación para los residentes de Sweetwater Valley y Sheep Creek a “SET”, la etapa 2 del proceso de evacuaciones que significa “prepárese y esté alerta”. Las zonas GYF-263, 266-A, 267, 300, 366 y 369 están en estado previo a la evacuación. Para más información, incluido dónde refugiarse y recursos para mascotas y ganado, visite https://sites.google.com/eaglecounty.us/ecemergencyespanol/inicio.
El Colorado River Road permanece cerrado para todos aquellos que no sean residentes y el tráfico no autorizado en la rotonda al norte de Dotsero hasta Red Dirt Road. Tenga en cuenta que no se puede acceder a Coffeepot Road desde su intersección con Colorado River Road.
Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 3
Please join us for a community meeting tonight, Monday, August 25, 2025 at 6:30 pm at the Gypsum Town Hall, 50 Lundgren Blvd., Gypsum, CO 81637.
The community meeting will be live-streamed on the Derby Fire Colorado Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/DerbyFire. A Spanish dubbed version will be live-streamed on the Derby Fire Incident YouTube page, https://www.youtube.com/@DerbyFireInformation 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.
The image below captures a flyer advertising the Derby Incident Community Meeting on Monday, August 25, 2025. This information is described in the post above.
Video shows a glimpse of some of the animals that were cared for at the livestock center.
