8.14.25, 11:34 am – REMINDER: Community Meeting tonight at 7pm at Colorado Mountain College in Rifle, CO. A Spanish interpreter will be present.

Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3

Elk and Lee Fire update document – English
Elk and Lee Fire update document – Spanish

Elk and Lee Fire Update – Thursday, August 14, 2025 – 10:32 am

Size: Elk Fire: 14,518 acres | Lee Fire: 127,107 acres
Total Personnel: 1,274
Containment: Elk Fire: 75% | Lee Fire 3%
Cause: Lightning
Resources: 10 Aircraft | 20 Hand Crews | 81 Engines | 35 Heavy Equipment

Important Notes: Yesterday, the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office upgraded the evacuation status of the following zones: 81 is in GO (red), 85 is in SET (yellow) 84 is in READY (green) Check your zone on this map: https://bit.ly/lee-fire-zones. The change in reported acreage on the Elk Fire is due to better mapping. The decrease in containment for the Lee Fire is due to an increase in acreage and expansion of the perimeter of the fire. Existing containment lines have not been lost. Critical fire weather is expected today on the Lee Fire. Critical fire weather is expected again today on the Lee Fire, then beginning to improve by Friday.

Yesterday: Lee Fire – Critical fire weather arrived as predicted, but firefighters along the Highway 13 corridor made good progress with operations going as planned. Cloud cover in the area aided suppression efforts. Crews working inside the fire reported decreased interior heat and smoke. On the south end, the spot fire just over Highway 5 held well and did not cross into Garfield County. From County Road 5 to County Road 3, lines remain secure. Additional crews are focusing along Highway 13 south to County Road 5 with the goal of making it safe for travel as soon as possible. Four hotshot crews, engines, and a UAS monitored for hotspots, work that will continue over the next several days.

Elk Fire: The Elk Fire remained within established control lines with minimal to no growth. Crews continued to patrol and mop-up, addressing creeping and smoldering hotspots. Work focused on reinforcing lines around structures and values at risk along County Roads 8, 40, and 49. Favorable winds supported suppression efforts, keeping the perimeter secure throughout the operational period.

Current Situation: Lee Fire – Active fire behavior is expected again today, especially in the southern area. Critical fire weather will bring shifting winds, low humidity, and hotter temperatures that will challenge existing lines along Highway 13. Crews will maintain point protection for communities, infrastructure, and other values at risk. Direct line construction will continue on the east side of the fire and from Highway 13 south to County Road 5, as well as holding and improving lines between County Roads 5 and 3. Hotspot detection will continue with UAS flights, supported by hotshot crews and engines for rapid response. The hotspot near the Garfield County line will remain a priority for full suppression and reinforcement.

Elk Fire: Crews will continue to patrol and mop-up the fire, reinforcing containment lines off County Road 8 and in the Beaver Creek area. Work will focus on keeping the fire within existing lines while protecting nearby structures values at risk.

Weather & Fire Behavior: Critical fire weather is expected today, with winds shifting to the west/southwest and gusts over 20 mph. Temperatures will be in the upper 80s to mid 90s, with relative humidity between 8–12 percent. Dry thunderstorms may develop in the afternoon, bringing erratic winds and the potential for rapid changes in fire behavior.

Evacuations and Closures: CR 5 and Hwy 13 remain closed. To sign up for Garfield County Emergency Alerts, go to: https://garco911.com/. For Garfield County updates go to: https://www.garfieldcounty.net/. 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. 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/…/blm-colorado-issues-emergency….

Actualización del incendio Elk y Lee – Jueves 14 de agosto de 2025: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/…/actualizacin-del…

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

Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3

Operational Briefing Video August 14, 2025 with Operations Section Chief, Jeramy Dietz

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

Check your zone on this INTERACTIVE EVACUATION MAP (search your address).

The Elk and Lee Fire Information Facebook page

Garfield County: REGISTER FOR ALERTS – garco911.com, INCIDENT UPDATES/SUBSCRIBE – garfieldcounty.net, FACEBOOK – facebook.com/garcosheriff

Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 3

Elk Fire: 14,518 acres | 75% contained
Lee Fire: 127,107 acres | 4% contained

There will be a public meeting tonight at 7pm at the Colorado Mountain College, Rifle Campus. A Spanish interpreter will be present.

A Red Flag Warning is in effect today, with high temperatures, low humidity, and shifting winds expected to increase fire activity and spotting potential.

Crews on both fires are using a mix of direct and indirect strategies to secure edges, protect homes and other values at risk, and address spot fires. Aircraft are supporting ground efforts and adjusting operations to improve safety as conditions change.

The change in acreage is due to better mapping overnight.

Photo Credit: Wyoming Interagency Hotshots

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

Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 3

August 13, 2025, 4:42 p.m. – Critical fire weather arrived as forecasted, bringing hot, dry conditions and increasing west-northwest winds that have driven more active fire behavior and are challenging containment lines. Operations today, including strategic firing, have gone as planned, with ground crews receiving support from aerial resources, including the Chinook helicopter shown here.

Inciweb Lee Fire: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident…/cowrd-lee-fire
Inciweb Elk Fire: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident…/cowrd-elk-rbx-fire

Check your zone on this INTERACTIVE EVACUATION MAP (search your address).

The Elk and Lee Fire Information Facebook page

Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office
BLM Colorado Fire
Bureau of Land Management – Colorado

Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control
U.S. Forest Service – White River National Forest
Bureau of Land Management Fire
Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Garfield County: REGISTER FOR ALERTS – garco911.com, INCIDENT UPDATES/SUBSCRIBE – garfieldcounty.net, FACEBOOK – facebook.com/garcosheriff

Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3

Operational Briefing Video August 13, 2025 with Operations Section Chief, Jeramy Dietz

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

Check your zone on this INTERACTIVE EVACUATION MAP (search your address).

The Elk and Lee Fire Information Facebook page

Garfield County: REGISTER FOR ALERTS – garco911.com, INCIDENT UPDATES/SUBSCRIBE – garfieldcounty.net, FACEBOOK – facebook.com/garcosheriff

Community Meeting Tomorrow August 14, 2025 at 7 pm at Colorado Mountain College – 3695 Airport Rd, Rifle, CO

Fire managers will be present to answer questions after the event. It will be recorded and posted on The Elk and Lee Fire Facebook Page

Check your zone on this INTERACTIVE EVACUATION MAP (search your address).

The Elk and Lee Fire Information Facebook page

Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office
BLM Colorado Fire
Bureau of Land Management – Colorado

Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control
U.S. Forest Service – White River National Forest
Bureau of Land Management Fire
Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Garfield County: REGISTER FOR ALERTS – garco911.com, INCIDENT UPDATES/SUBSCRIBE – garfieldcounty.net, FACEBOOK – facebook.com/garcosheriff

Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3

Elk and Lee Fire update document – English
Elk and Lee Fire update document – Spanish

Wednesday, August 13, 2025 – 11:01 am
Size: Elk Fire: 14,549 acres | Lee Fire: 120,650 acres
Total Personnel: 1,284
Containment: Elk Fire: 75% | Lee Fire 4%
Cause: Lightning
Resources: 14 Aircraft | 26 Hand Crews | 77 Engines | 10 Heavy Equipment

Important Notes: The decrease in containment for the Lee Fire is due to an increase in acreage and expansion of the perimeter of the fire. Existing containment lines have not been lost. Critical fire weather is expected today on the Lee Fire. Shifting winds with hot, dry temperatures will challenge firefighters, especially on the southern portion.

Yesterday: Lee Fire – Firefighters on the northwest side of the Lee Fire were able to take advantage of favorable weather to construct firelines directly at its edge. Strategic firing operations on the southwest side of the fire were conducted as planned with moderate fire behavior and good success in strengthening the line along County Road 5 and County Road 3. Firefighters continued reinforcing containment lines on the north and east side of the fire and along Highway 13. They also continued securing lines around structures and other values at risk. Firefighters faced challenging conditions as they worked on the spot fire south of County Road 5. Air tankers and helicopters assisted these efforts, focusing on slowing fire spread. Night shift continued firing operations on the southeast of Cow Creek to limit the potential for fire spread to the south.

Elk Fire: Firefighters made significant progress around the perimeter of the Elk Fire. Crews continued to mop-up and patrol to eliminate hotspots and reinforce containment lines. Some flare up occurred overnight as the fire reached unburned pockets of fuels inside the fire perimeter. Firefighters working on structure protection continued to patrol around structures and other values at risk.

Current Situation: Lee Fire – Active fire behavior is expected, especially in the southern area. Critical fire weather will bring shifting winds, low humidity, and hotter temperatures that will challenge existing lines along Highway 13. Crews will continue to monitor and improve containment lines west of Highway 13 and south of Highway 64. Firefighters will work on constructing firelines around the spot fire below County Road 5. Firefighters will continue to scout and construct containment lines in the southern area by incorporating roads, trails and natural features that would inhibit fire growth. Constructing indirect or secondary lines provides firefighters with the opportunity to work the fire on their terms with the highest probability of success of protecting values at risk.

Elk Fire: Crews will continue reinforcing containment lines off County Road 8 and in the Beaver Creek area as they patrol and mop up any hotspots. Crew will continue working to secure lines on the west side of the fire. Crews are working toward the goal to fully secure the perimeter of the fire.

Weather & Fire Behavior: Critical fire weather is expected today. Winds will shift to the west/northwest. Hotter and dryer conditions will prevail. Relative humidity will be at 7-10 percent. There is a potential for the development of large plumes of smoke and possibly of Pyrocumulus clouds.

Actualización del incendio de Elk y Lee – Miércoles 13 de agosto de 2025: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/…/actualizacin-del…

Check your zone on this INTERACTIVE EVACUATION MAP (search your address).

The Elk and Lee Fire Information Facebook page

Garfield County: REGISTER FOR ALERTS – garco911.com, INCIDENT UPDATES/SUBSCRIBE – garfieldcounty.net, FACEBOOK – facebook.com/garcosheriff