After careful consideration, Garfield County, CO, the Garfield County Sheriff, Upper Colorado River District Bureau of Land Management, the White River National Forest and the seven fire districts in Garfield County moved from stage II fire restrictions to stage I fire restrictions effective 12:01 a.m. MST Friday September 5, 2025. The fire danger is still high but less than it was for the past several weeks when we were under stage II restrictions.
Fire restrictions are implemented based on specific criteria to include moisture content of vegetation, weather outlooks, human risk factors and firefighting resource availability
WHAT STAGE I FIRE RESTRICTIONS MEAN IN GARFIELD COUNTY
Fireworks are not allowed under stage I fire restrictions. Professional fireworks shows may be allowed through the permitting process.
All burn permits are postponed/canceled until further notice.
Campfires are only allowed within designated fire grates in developed areas (i.e. a permanent in-ground containment structure or store bought fire pit). A temporary fire pan and rock campfire rings will are not acceptable.
No fires of any type including charcoal in undeveloped areas.
No smoking except within a designated area, enclosed vehicle or building, a developed area or in an area free of combustibles.
No use of fireworks or explosive materials, including “exploding†targets or bullets and tracer rounds.
Exercise common sense and industry safety practice when welding or operation of an acetylene or other similar torch with open flame always cleared safe area of vegetation and combustibles.
Penalties
Causing a fire during fire restrictions can be a class 6 felony and can be punishable by fines. Other possible charges range from a class 2 felony to a petty offense, depending on the value of the damage caused. You may be held financially responsible for damage caused.
federal lands
The use of fireworks, flares, or other incendiary devices, including exploding targets, are always prohibited on federal lands.
By definition:
A “developed area” is an area, whether within city limits or rural, that is groomed, manicured and or watered, where grasses, brush and trees are regularly attended to by land owner. This includes residential and business areas, improved recreational areas, parks and other common areas.
“Undeveloped areas” are lands that are not groomed, manicured, or watered, where grasses, brush and trees have been allowed to grow in a natural environment. This includes green belts that are not landscaped or manicured, open space lands, non-manicured park lands, and other areas where the fire hazard presented by the vegetation is determined by the authority having jurisdiction or designee to be an undue wildland fire hazard.
Additional information will be released as it becomes available.
Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3
#DerbyFire Operations Update, Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. Operations Section Chief Chief Nick Collard talks about today’s operations which include increasing security depth on areas around the fire and suppression repair as well.
Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3
A Resource Advisor, or REAF, helps guide firefighting efforts so that important natural and cultural resources are protected during a wildfire. They work with incident management and crews to make sure suppression tactics are effective while also caring for the land, water, wildlife, and special places at risk. READ/REAF Morgan Wooderson explains her work here at the Derby Fire. #derbyfire #FireYear2025
Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3
Unmanned Aviation Systems (drones), have played a key role in the Derby Fire. From checking for hot spots and heat for future operations, to ensuring crew safety, a UAS is a valuable tool in fire suppression. UAS operator Corey Landehenning explains the UAS mission.
Fire Information: 970-355-3283 Size: 5,447 Total Personnel: 526 Containment: 42% Cause: Lightning Resources: 5 Aircraft | 8 Hand Crews | 21 Engines | 7 Heavy Equipment
Current Situation:
The precipitation we received last week coupled with lower temperatures offered us an opportunity for firefighters to take suppression actions along the fire’s edge. Incident managers are taking proactive action to consider firefighter and equipment needs to most efficiently and effectively engage the fire.
Firefighters are using Minimum Impact Suppression Tactics (MIST) as they work in the Flat Top Wilderness Area. The crews are currently utilizing aviation assets which include unmanned aviation systems (UAS) to support all aspects of their operation.
Crews continue their work on the southeast side of the fire as they continue to construct fireline from the southeast corner up to West Fork Red Dirt Creek. As containment increases on the southern side of the fire, firefighters will focus on patrolling and mopping up isolated heat around cabins and a portion of the Ute-Sweetwater Trail. When patrolling the firelines, crews or engines are rechecking their previous work and validating there are no signs of smoke or heat that indicate the fire is still active.
On the northeastern side of the fire, crews continue to build fireline towards each other, one from the south end, and one from the north end. As crews are working, other fire personnel will follow them mopping up as they contain the fireline. Crews will utilize helicopters to transport hose, pumps, and fuel to support the firefighters’ efforts. They’ll also bring back debris from crews and spike camps, helping ensure the ground is left clean.
Weather & Fire Behavior:
High pressure has moved out of the region, allowing moisture back to the area and lower temperatures in the 70’s. Thursday will be partly cloudy with chances of isolated showers which will keep the potential for fire spread minimal.
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: https://arcg.is/S0u4G and www.ecemergency.org.
A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the Derby Fire. All unauthorized aircraft (including drones) are prohibited from flying near the fire, as they can interfere with authorized air support operations. For more information, visit https://tfr.faa.gov.
Derby Fire Information
Phone: 970-355-3283 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.) Email: 2025.Derby@firenet.gov
Actualización Diaria para el Incendio Derby – el 4 de Septiembre de 2025
Equipo 3 del Manejo de Incidentes Complejos del Ãrea de las Montañas Rocosas
Comandantes del Incidente: Casey Cheesbrough, Jay Miller, Ben Sanders
Información del incendio: 970-355-3283 Acres: 5,447 Personal: 526 Contención: 42% Causa: Rayos Recursos: 5 aeronaves | 8 cuadrillas | 21 camiones de bomberos | 7 equipo pesados
Situación Actual:
Las precipitaciones de la semana pasada, junto con las temperaturas más bajas, brindaron a los bomberos la oportunidad de implementar medidas de extinción en el borde del incendio. Los gestores de incidentes están tomando medidas proactivas para considerar las necesidades de los bomberos y el equipo necesario para combatir el incendio de la manera más eficiente y eficaz.
Las cuadrillas continúan trabajando en el lado sureste del incendio, construyendo una lÃnea de fuego desde la esquina sureste hasta West Fork Red Dirt Creek. A medida que aumenta la contención en el lado sur del incendio, los bomberos se centrarán en patrullar y eliminar el calor aislado alrededor de las cabañas y una parte del Ute-Sweetwater Trail. Al patrullar las lÃneas de fuego, las cuadrillas o los camiones de bomberos están revisando su trabajo previo y validando que no haya señales de humo o calor que indiquen que el incendio sigue activo.
La alta presión se ha alejado de la región, lo que permite que la humedad regrese al área y las temperaturas bajen.
Evacuaciones y cierres:
Las restricciones y cierres por incendios se permanecen vigentes en los terrenos bajo la administración de la Oficina de Administración de Tierras del Valle del RÃo Colorado: https://www.blm.gov/ucr-fire-restrictions. Las restricciones y cierres por incendios se permanecen vigentes en Bosque Nacional White River. Consulte las alertas forestales crÃticas y de restricciones por incendios en https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/alerts/.
Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3
#DerbyFire Air Operations Update, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2025, Air Operations Branch Director Preston Burns discusses air operations tactics on the #DerbyFire.
Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3
Many types of equipment assist with wildland fire suppression, but it’s not all engines and brush trucks! Heavy equipment operator, Dean Ehmann, talks about his time on the #DerbyFire. #FireYear2025.
Size: 5,475 Total Personnel: 530 Containment: 41% Cause: Lightning Resources: 5 Aircraft | 8 Hand Crews | 20 Engines | 9 Heavy Equipment
Current Situation:
Containment rose to 41% on the Derby Fire. Crews completed handline construction in steep and rugged terrain, on the southwest corner of the fire and are beginning to move north. Support from helicopter water drops in the area helped to mitigate the lingering heat along the southern fire edge. Firefighters are also working to repair impacts of fire suppression actions on the natural environment.
Four separate groups of firefighters and support personnel have been flown into different parts of the fire and will continue their work on Wednesday. A hotshot crew on the north flank of the fire started line construction along the fire’s edge, using Minimum Impact Suppression Tactics (MIST), in the West Fork Sheep Creek drainage of the Flat Tops Wilderness where heat has been detected. These tactics include cold trailing, using bare hands to feel for residual heat along the fire’s edge to reduce the amount of line construction. They will be assisted by aerial assets and anticipate working at this location for the next few days.
A wildland fire Suppression Module (SMOD) is taking action to extinguish hotspots outside of the western fire perimeter. A SMOD is a smaller firefighting crew that is used for Initial Attack and other specific fire suppression needs. More than 70 firefighters are working on the eastern fire edge. Hand crews are traveling by helicopter to reduce travel time, moving further north, continuing handline construction.
On the southeastern edge of the fire, an unmanned aircraft system identified several heat pockets. Crews plan to focus suppression efforts on those areas Wednesday.
Weather & Fire Behavior:
Dry weather continues across the area. Temperatures will be in the lower 80’s with humidity once again dropping into the mid-teens. However, there will be cloud cover and a slight chance of rain keeping the potential for fire spread minimal.
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: https://arcg.is/S0u4G and www.ecemergency.org.
A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the Derby Fire. For more information, visit https://tfr.faa.gov.
Derby Fire Information
Phone: 970-355-3283 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.) Email: 2025.Derby@firenet.gov
Actualización Diaria para el Incendio Derby – el 3 de Septiembre de 2025
Equipo 3 del Manejo de Incidentes Complejos del Ãrea de las Montañas Rocosas Comandantes del Incidente: Casey Cheesbrough, Jay Miller, Ben Sanders
El tiempo seco continúa en la zona. Las temperaturas rondarán los 80°F, con una humedad que volverá a descender a alrededor de 15%. Sin embargo, habrá nubosidad y una ligera probabilidad de lluvia, lo que minimiza la posibilidad de propagación del incendio.
Evacuaciones y cierres:
Las restricciones y cierres por incendios se permanecen vigentes en los terrenos bajo la administración de la Oficina de Administración de Tierras del Valle del RÃo Colorado: https://www.blm.gov/ucr-fire-restrictions. Las restricciones y cierres por incendios se permanecen vigentes en Bosque Nacional White River. Consulte las alertas forestales crÃticas y de restricciones por incendios en https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/alerts/.
Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3
#DerbyFire Operations Update, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2025, Ryan Sharpe Operations Section Chief, discusses firefighting tactics on the #DerbyFire.
Containment on the Derby Fire rose to 41%. The main priority today will be focusing efforts in the northwest area outside of the fire perimeter. Operations Section Chief Ryan Sharpe shares the rest of the operations plan.
