Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 3

Evening Update – Aug. 15, 2025, 8:56 p.m.

Elk Fire: 14,518 acres | 93% contained
Lee Fire: 133,954 acres | 31% contained

Firefighters made steady progress today on containment efforts across both fires, including work on contingency lines. The Elk Fire resources focused on final containment and support to local units. On the Lee Fire, crews continued to secure areas along Highway 13 and worked across the fire to reinforce lines and address interior heat.

Weather today brought higher humidity, which helped moderate fire activity. Conditions are expected to dry out over the next several days, with the potential for thunderstorms returning next week.

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

Photo: Lolo Interagency Hotshot Crew

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 Complex Incident Management Team 3

August 15, 2025, 3:45 p.m. – Firelines are holding on both the Lee and Elk fires this afternoon. Crews are mopping up to secure these lines and put out any hot spots. Firefighters are also focusing mop up efforts around structures and other values at risk. Prep work is continuing on contingency lines on the south edge of the fire.

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

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

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

Elk and Lee Fires update document
Elk and Lee fires update document – Spanish

Map

Elk and Lee Fire Update – Friday, August 15, 2025, 10:30 a.m.
Size: Elk Fire: 14,518 acres | Lee Fire: 133,841 acres
Total personnel: 1,274
Containment: Elk Fire: 93% | Lee Fire 12%
Cause: Lightning
Resources: 14 Aircraft | 29 Hand Crews | 82 Engines | 41 Heavy Equipment

Important note: The Bureau of Land Management has reopened a portion of public lands in Rio Blanco County while keeping other identified areas closed due to recent activity on the Lee Fire. Visit BLM Colorado Fire on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BLMColoradoFire for additional information and a link to the current closure order.

Yesterday: Lee Fire – Crews made steady progress, increasing containment on the north side of the fire and continued to work along Hogback Ridge to secure the edge. Firefighters went direct along control lines to keep the fire within established boundaries north of County Road 5, while interior fuels continued to burn on the west side. Aviation resources supported crews with water bucket drops on the south end, holding the existing spot fire from spreading further to the south. Despite erratic winds that challenged the control lines, firefighters successfully held the fire north of County Road 5 while continuing to secure control lines along Highway 13.

Elk Fire: The fire remained within established containment lines The fire continues to creep around and smolder inside the fire perimeter. Crews continued to patrol, mop up, and reinforce lines along the perimeter. Firefighters began suppression repair work to restore areas disturbed during suppression activities.

Current situation: Lee Fire – While there is an increased chance of precipitation, critically low fuel moisture will continue to drive fire behavior. Conditions are expected to remain slightly below critical thresholds, with the potential for isolated torching and spotting, particularly in unburned pockets inside established containment lines. Crews will patrol and mop up any hotspots to reinforce firelines on the west side and along the Highway 13 corridor. Interior burning is anticipated to continue north of County Road 5. Heavy equipment, fire crews, and aviation resources will continue to work to hold the spot fire south of County Road 5.

Elk Fire: No new growth is expected. Crews will continue to reinforce firelines as they patrol and mop up hotspots inside containment lines and work on fire suppression repair.

Weather & fire behavior: Cloud cover and a slight increase in moisture are expected, though the potential for wetting rain remains low. Temperatures will be in the lower 80s with midday west/northwest winds at 6-12 mph and gusts up to 26 mph. Dry thunderstorms may develop, bringing erratic, gusty winds and the potential for rapid changes in fire behavior.

Evacuations and closures: CR 5 and Hwy 13 remain closed. For the most up-to-date road closure information, please visit www.COtrip.org or use the COtrip app. To sign up for Garfield County Emergency Alerts, go to: https://garco911.com/. For Garfield County updates go to: https://www.garfieldcounty.net/.

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

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. 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://ow.ly/78uF50WGjNW.

Actualización del incendio Elk y Lee – Jueves 15 de agosto de 2025: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident…/cowrd-lee-fire
Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office
BLM Colorado Fire
Bureau of Land Management – Colorado

Actualización del incendio Elk y Lee – Viernes 15 de agosto de 2025

Equipo de Gestión de Incidentes del Complejo del Área de las Montañas Rocosas 3 Casey Cheesbrough, Comandante de Incidentes
Información sobre incendios: 970-341-8665 | Medios: 970-341-8663
Tamaño: Incendio Elk: 14.518 acres | Incendio Lee: 133.841 acres
Personal total: 1.274
Contención: Incendio Elk: 93% | Incendio Lee 12%
Causa: Relámpago

Recursos: 14 aviones | 29 cuadrillas | 82 camiones de bomberos | 41 maquinaria pesada

Anuncio especial: Se llevará a cabo una reunión comunitaria por los incendios de Lee y Elk el sábado 16 de agosto a las 7:00 p.m. en Meeker High School, 550 School St, en Meeker, CO.

Notas importantes: La Oficina de Administración de Tierras ha reabierto una parte de las tierras públicas en el condado de Río Blanco mientras mantiene cerradas otras áreas identificadas debido a la actividad reciente en el incendio Lee. Visite BLM Colorado Fire en Facebook en https://www.facebook.com/BLMColoradoFire para obtener información adicional y un enlace a la orden de cierre actual.

Ayer: Incendio Lee – Las cuadrillas hicieron un progreso constante, aumentando la contención en el lado norte del incendio y continuaron trabajando a lo largo de Hogback Ridge para asegurar el borde. Los bomberos fueron directamente a lo largo de las líneas de control para mantener el fuego dentro de los límites establecidos al norte de County Road 5, mientras que los combustibles interiores continuaron ardiendo en el lado oeste. Los recursos de aviación apoyaron a las cuadrillas con cubos de agua en el extremo sur, evitando que el incendio existente se extendiera más hacia el sur. A pesar de los vientos erráticos que desafiaron las líneas de control, los bomberos contuvieron con éxito el fuego al norte de County Road 5 mientras continuaban asegurando las líneas de control a lo largo de la autopista 13.

Incendio Elk: El fuego permaneció dentro de las líneas de contención establecidas El fuego continúa arrastrándose y ardiendo dentro del perímetro del incendio. Las cuadrillas continuaron patrullando, limpiando y reforzando las líneas a lo largo del perímetro. Los bomberos comenzaron los trabajos de reparación de supresión para restaurar las áreas perturbadas durante las actividades de supresión.
Situación actual: Incendio Lee: Si bien existe una mayor probabilidad de precipitación, la humedad del combustible críticamente baja continuará impulsando el comportamiento del fuego. Se espera que las condiciones permanezcan ligeramente por debajo de los niveles críticos, con la posibilidad de quemas y manchas aisladas, particularmente en bolsas no quemadas dentro de las líneas de contención establecidas. Las cuadrillas patrullarán y limpiarán cualquier punto caliente para reforzar las líneas de fuego en el lado oeste y a lo largo del corredor de la autopista 13. Se prevé que la quema interior continúe al norte de County Road 5. El equipo pesado, los equipos de bomberos y los recursos de aviación continuarán trabajando para contener el incendio al sur de County Road 5.
Incendio Elk: No se espera un nuevo crecimiento. Las cuadrillas continuarán reforzando las líneas de fuego mientras patrullan y limpian los puntos calientes dentro de las líneas de contención y trabajan en la reparación de la extinción de incendios.

Comportamiento del clima y el fuego: Se espera una capa de nubes y un ligero aumento de la humedad, aunque el potencial de lluvia húmeda sigue siendo bajo. Las temperaturas estarán en los 80 grados inferiores con vientos del mediodía del oeste / noroeste de 6 a 12 mph y ráfagas de hasta 26 mph. Pueden desarrollarse tormentas eléctricas secas, trayendo vientos erráticos y racheados y la posibilidad de cambios rápidos en el comportamiento del fuego.

Evacuaciones y cierres: CR 5 y Hwy 13 permanecen cerradas. Para inscribirse en las alertas de emergencia del condado de Garfield, visite: https://garco911.com/. Para obtener actualizaciones del condado de Garfield, visite: https://www.garfieldcounty.net/. Visite la página de Facebook de la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Río Branco – https://www.facebook.com/RioBlancoCountySheriffsOffice – para obtener información precisa y actualizada sobre todas las evacuaciones y cierres de carreteras. Para inscribirse para recibir alertas de emergencia en: https://rioblancoalerts.genasys.com/portal/en. Información sobre el cierre del Bosque Nacional White River en: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/alerts. Información sobre los cierres de la oficina de campo de BLM White River en: https://www.blm.gov/announcement/blm-colorado-issues-emergency-closure-public-lands-rio-blanco-county.
Información sobre los incendios de Elk y Lee:
Teléfono: 970-341-8665; Correo electrónico: 2025.elkrbx@firenet.gov
Facebook: www.facebook.com/elkleefire
Iniciweb Incendio Lee: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/cowrd-lee-fire
Inciweb Incendio Elk: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/cowrd-elk-rbx-fire

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
Rifle Police Department

Garfield County Sheriff’s Office

August 15, 2025, 10 a.m. – Evacuation change for the LEE FIRE area:

Zone 70 is downgrading to SET (yellow) status.
Zone 70 is on the east side of Highway 13 in northern Garfield County.
Other zones in Garfield County are not changing.

INTERACTIVE EVACUATION MAP: https://bit.ly/lee-fire-zones (enter your address to check status)

BLM closure areas are not changing.
Highway 13 remains closed to the public. Resident traffic only.

Fire managers’ strategic planning includes multiple secondary and contingency lines between the fire’s edge and the southern edge of the Roan Plateau.

Residents must obtain a Rapid Tag in:

    •    Meeker – Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office, 355 4th Street

    •    Rifle – Colorado River Fire Station 41, 1850 Railroad Ave, Rifle, CO

A Rapid Tag allows authorized access through a roadblock if you are permitted to return to your property.

YOU MUST STOP at the checkpoint and report before proceeding.

Even though the status has been lowered, stay vigilant — conditions can change quickly and there is still active fire in the area.

As a reminder:

GO = Evacuate immediately from your area. Leave now – danger in your area.

SET = Short notice evacuation likely in your area. Prepare for sudden evacuations. Leave now if you need extra time.

READY = Possible evacuation in your area. Prepare, monitor, and pack your valuables.

INTERACTIVE EVACUATION MAP: http://bit.ly/lee-fire-zones

Garfield County: REGISTER FOR ALERTS – garco911.com

INCIDENT UPDATES/SUBSCRIBE – garfieldcounty.net

FACEBOOK – facebook.com/garcosheriff

Elk and Lee Fire Information page: https://www.facebook.com/elkleefire

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Cambio de evacuación para el área de LEE FIRE

Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Garfield

15 de agosto de 2025, 10 a. m. – Cambio de evacuación para el área del incendio LEE:

La zona 70 se degrada a SET (amarilla).
Se encuentra al este de la autopista 13, en el norte del condado de Garfield.
Las demás zonas del condado de Garfield no sufrirán cambios.

MAPA DE EVACUACIÓN INTERACTIVO: https://bit.ly/lee-fire-zones (ingrese su dirección para verificar el estado)

Las zonas cerradas por la Oficina de Administración de Tierras (BLM) no cambiarán.
La Carretera 13 permanece cerrada al público. Solo para residentes.

La planificación estratégica de los administradores de incendios incluye múltiples líneas secundarias y de contingencia entre el borde del incendio y el borde sur de la meseta de Roan.

Los residentes deben obtener una etiqueta rápida en:

    • Meeker  – Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Rio Blanco, 355 4th Street

    • Rifle  – Estación de bomberos del río Colorado 41, 1850 Railroad Ave, Rifle, CO

Una etiqueta rápida permite el acceso autorizado a través de un control de carretera si se le permite regresar a su propiedad.

DEBE DETENERSE  en el punto de control e informar antes de continuar.

Aunque el estado se haya reducido, permanezca alerta  : las condiciones pueden cambiar rápidamente y todavía hay fuego activo en el área.

Como recordatorio:

SALIR = Evacuar inmediatamente su zona. Salga ahora: peligro en su zona.

SET = Posible evacuación con poca antelación en su zona. Prepárese para evacuaciones repentinas. Salga ahora si necesita más tiempo.

PREPARADO = Posible evacuación en su zona. Prepare, vigile y empaque sus objetos de valor.

MAPA DE EVACUACIÓN INTERACTIVO: http://bit.ly/lee-fire-zones

Condado de Garfield: REGÍSTRESE PARA RECIBIR ALERTAS – garco911.com

ACTUALIZACIONES DE INCIDENTES/SUSCRÍBASE – garfieldcounty.net

FACEBOOK – facebook.com/garcosheriff

Página de información sobre incendios de Elk y Lee: https://www.facebook.com/elkleefire

Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 3

August 15, 2025, 9:11 a.m. – Good Morning from the Elk & Lee fires.
Size: Elk Fire – 14,518 acres | Lee Fire – 133,841 acres
Containment: Elk Fire – 93% | Lee Fire – 12%

Today on the Elk & Lee fires, crews are focusing on protecting critical values while maintaining safe operations. Highway 13 remains a priority, with crews working to secure the corridor for safe travel. Thunderstorms are possible this afternoon, with erratic winds up to 30 mph and lightning that could increase fire activity and spotting.

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

Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office
BLM Colorado Fire
Bureau of Land Management – Colorado
U.S. Forest Service – White River National Forest

Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control

Bureau of Land Management Fire
Garfield County Sheriff’s Office – Colorado
Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 3

August 12, 2025, 10:05 p.m. –
Elk Fire – 14,549 acres | 75% contained
Lee Fire – 120,650 acres | 4% contained

Containment on the Lee Fire decreased slightly today due to fire growth and expansion of the perimeter. While we’ve seen significant progress on the Elk Fire, tomorrow brings critical fire weather, meaning conditions will make fire activity more likely and harder to control. Winds will shift and increase from the west/northwest, temperatures will rise into the low 90s, and humidity will drop into the single digits.

These factors could produce tall smoke plumes, erratic surface winds, and an increased risk of spotting, especially near Highway 13.

In preparation, crews on both fires will work through the night with heavy equipment to strengthen and secure lines, check for heat, and address interior hot spots identified by infrared flights. Work will also continue on the spot fire south of County Road 5, along with scouting for potential contingency lines near Highway 13.

We’ll share updates as conditions change tomorrow. Please stay alert, ensure you are signed up for emergency alerts, and follow verified information from official sources including this page and at:

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

Photo Credit: Wyoming Interagency Hotshots

Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 3

Afternoon update

August 12, 2025, 6:21 p.m. – Burning operations in the southwest area of the Lee Fire along County Road 5 went well today, and that work is holding as expected.

Crews are also working to contain a spot fire south of County Road 5 that is showing increased activity this afternoon. Aircraft will be in the area, and dozers are building containment line. If needed, firefighters may use offensive firing operations to support their efforts.

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